Ex-Liv Golf Pro star gets sponsor exemption to this PGA event set to take place in March, becoming the first to open the closed door. 

Ex-LIV Golf Pro Gets Sponsor Exemption Into $4M PGA Tour Event

The once forbidden door looks accessible, with the PGA Tour now seemingly opening gates for former LIV Golf players. Recently, that’s what happened to the Spanish golfer Eugenio Chacarra, who is going to make history next week. “My dream since I was little was to be on the PGA Tour,” said Chacarra in a recent interview upon getting the opportunity to tee off at the Puerto Rico Open on a sponsor exemption. “Like I said, back in the day when I left [LIV Golf], that I’m going to try to go back to my best level, get my game where it needs to be. I know when my game’s good, I can compete with all the best players in the world. Yeah, I’m excited to have a chance to compete on the PGA Tour.” Chacarra is the first former LIV golfer granted entry to a PGA Tour event. The Puerto Rico Open, which is set to take place between March 5 and 8, 2026. It’s an alternate field event on the week of the Arnold Palmer Invitational. But it’s a big opportunity for the 25-year-old who is seeking to earn a PGA Tour card. A victory is of course going to make his dream come true. But even a decent finish on the leaderboard will boost his confidence and improve his world ranking. A total of 300 FedEx Cup points is on the line as well. Chacarra is allowed to tee off because his one-year suspension already ended last September. It should be noted that the youngster had already teed off in a co-sanctioned event, the Genesis Scottish Open, thanks to his 2025 Hero Indian Open triumph. Meanwhile, it will be the 25-year-old’s first start as a professional in a regular PGA Tour event. Before becoming a LIV Golf member and a pro, the Spaniard played three PGA Tour events as an amateur while remaining at Oklahoma State University. As an amateur, he ascended to the second spot in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. Fresh out of the university, his career took a new turn when he signed a three-year deal with LIV Golf in 2022. He tasted initial success, winning the LIV Golf Invitational Bangkok in just his fifth pro start. However, his LIV Golf contract was not renewed in 2024. Following the exit, Chacarra spoke of his disillusionment with the Saudi-backed league. CHACARRA SEEKS CAREER REVIVAL AFTER LIV GOLF STINT After Chacarra signed the LIV Golf deal in 2022, he received an immediate sanction from the PGA Tour, which ended in September 2025. But following his exit from the league, he strongly called out LIV, questioning the competitiveness compared to the PGA Tour. The Spaniard felt his victory in LIV didn’t earn him any status or change his life in a way a victory on the PGA Tour or DP World Tour would’ve. He reportedly lost the real motivation [https://www.essentiallysports.com/golf-news-exclusive-ex-live-golf-pro-eugenio-chacarra-finds-his-rhythm-after-losing-motivation-at-breakaway-league/] to win because their format didn’t have the actual competition of real golf, which not only hurt his career but also his mental health. “I was losing a little motivation,” Chacarra said during an interview last year. “Because once you win out there, it’s just money, you know? If I won individually, I saw nothing change. Once you have a lot of money, this doesn’t matter.” Lately he has been competing on the DP World Tour. His last top-20 finish came at the 2026 Dubai Invitational. Right now, the Spaniard is on a mental health break. After experiencing a challenging phase in LIV, the 25-year-old is fully committed to making a strong comeback, and it could start with the Puerto Rico Open. It remains to be seen if Chacarra can bounce back and prove his mettle on the Tour. 

Pratham K. Sharma is a Golf Editor at EssentiallySports, bringing a versatile background across digital sports media and newsroom operations. With a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication, he has worked across multiple beats, including cricket, multi-sport coverage, and radio production, before finding his stride in golf journalism.

Pratham’s editorial style blends clear analysis with a fan-first approach, making complex storylines accessible and engaging for readers. His interest in bodybuilding, creativity, and sports culture adds a unique voice to his work, helping him identify fresh angles and craft stories that resonate with a broad audience.

At EssentiallySports, Pratham focuses on delivering detailed, high-quality golf coverage while bringing energy, curiosity, and thoughtful storytelling to the desk.

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Ex-LIV Golf Pro Gets Sponsor Exemption Into $4M PGA Tour Event

Ex-LIV Golf Pro Gets Sponsor Exemption Into $4M PGA Tour Event

Chacarra seeks career revival after LIV Golf stint