"Basically begging to play a tournament": LIV golfer reveals his desperation before making the switch to play Saudi-backed league

American golfer Andy Ogletree was one of the three reserves brought into the LIV Golf series, in order to play in case a player became ill or injured during the tournament. The 2019 Monroe Invitational winner, unfortunately, finished last in the first event of the LIV Golf series in London.

The second season of the contentious series commenced on February 24, 2023, at the El Camaleon Golf Course in Mexico. Ogletree was seen practicing at the driving range whilst the other professionals were on the golf course.

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Andy Ogletree seems desperate to prove himself

Sony Open in Hawaii - Round One (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)

The former U.S. amateur champion faced a challenging year after finishing last by 31 strokes behind in his first LIV Golf event, even though he was paid a handsome sum of $120,000 as the last place money. He was suspended from the PGA Tour for playing in the first season of LIV Golf and wasn't invited to play in any other event for the latter either.

“My understanding was that I was going to play multiple (LIV) events. But that was not guaranteed, obviously," said Ogletree.

He continued on to say:

"It was a risk I was willing to take at the time because I had been for months and months and months trying to get into a Korn Ferry event and writing to tournament directors and basically begging to play a tournament that mattered."

Ogletree justified his substandard performance by saying:

“When an opportunity presented itself it was great for me. I didn’t play well. I was injured. I wasn’t too hard on myself. Sometimes in this game you just play bad golf. I wasn’t ready physically. I wasn’t ready mentally. I hadn’t played any golf for a few months before that event. Things happen for a reason I think."

Ogletree had torn his labrum because of which he had to pause his golfing career for six months after he missed out on acquiring a playing card at the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament in 2020. However, he has seemingly turned things around in the last two years, acquiring Asian Tour status for two years when he won in Egypt in October 2022.

His victory in Qatar a couple of weeks ago in addition to his performance at the Asian Tour opener in Saudi Arabia has not only made him exempt for a good 3 more years on the Asian Tour, but also earned him over $1 million overall.