Almost every professional golfer dreams of playing on the PGA Tour, as it is the biggest stage ever for those who want to make a living through golf. Therefore, it is unheard of for someone to reject a PGA Tour card. However, Laurie Canter did exactly that. What makes it even more surprising is that he was part of LIV Golf. So he would have had to face a one-year ban to rejoin the PGA Tour if it were not for his excellent performances on the DP World Tour. The 36-year-old Englishman has broken his silence after rejecting what many consider a career-defining opportunity.

“If you’re going out to play on the PGA Tour and you can live in America, that’s obviously achievable but, at this point, I don’t want a life like that,” Laurie Canter said in an interview with Tom Kershaw of The Times. “My family is happy and settled where they are. I have two daughters [aged three and one]. Travelling back and forth to America 30 weeks of the year isn’t sustainable.”

Canter earned his PGA Tour eligibility after finishing seventh in the 2025 Race to Dubai. Since he was among the top-10 non-members who were not exempt already, he was eligible to get a PGA Tour card for the 2026 season. Regardless of how much the PGA Tour leadership might hate LIV Golf, they couldn’t have stopped Canter from playing their events if he wanted to. But the Englishman denied the offer, surprising everyone.

The LIV golfer acknowledged the PGA Tour as the pinnacle of the sport. But family considerations ultimately tipped the balance. Canter lives in Dubai with his wife and two young daughters. Thus, it is understandable why he made the decision. His family is happy, so he doesn’t want to relocate to the United States. Notably, traveling roughly 30 weeks a year would come at too high a personal cost. This made it unsustainable for the 2x DP World Tour winner.

“The offer I had to go was brilliant. You’re weighing up all these things: where am I going to play my best golf and how do I feel I can do that and be compensated in the best way that I can, but it is also the lifestyle,” Laurie Canter said. “The PGA Tour schedule is still probably the pinnacle of tour golf but, truthfully, I enjoy playing in Europe and I’m still passionate about playing events on the DP World Tour.”

While Laurie Canter does not want to play on the PGA Tour, he is still passionate about European golf. He admits to aiming to continue to play on the DP World Tour. However, it wouldn’t be that easy for him, especially during the LIV schedule. For every contrasting LIV and DP World Tour event he plays for the Saudi-backed league, he will face fines. It might not have been such a big challenge until now because LIV was covering these fines. But from 2026, LIV golfers who want to play on the DP World Tour will be on their own for paying the fines.

Therefore, even if Canter plays on the DP World Tour after LIV’s schedule, he will have to manage the fines. But he might not have to worry that much after all, because this time he is replacing Henrik Stenson to join the Majesticks, alongside Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, and Sam Horsefield.

Laurie Canter first joined LIV Golf in 2022 amid its launch. He played seven events and finished 28th overall despite a limited prior status on the European tour. The Englishman served as a reserve in 2023 (11 events) and early 2024 before being replaced by Anthony Kim. This led to his return to the DP World Tour, and what an amazing season he has had.

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Laurie Canter’s 2025 DP World Tour season

Laurie Canter had a breakout 2025 DP World Tour season. He finished 7th in the Race to Dubai standings to earn a PGA Tour card, which he declined. The Englishman registered one win, six top-10 finishes, and $300,000 from the bonus pool. He won the International Swing, securing entry into all Back 9 events.​

Canter claimed his second DP World Tour title at the 2025 Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship in February. With rounds of 68-69-68-69, he finished 14 under par after the regulation rounds. He was tied with Daniel Brown and Pablo Larrazabal, triggering a playoff on the 18th hole. While Brown and Larrazabal hit a bogey on the par-4 18th, the 2x DP World Tour winner made a birdie. This helped him edge past the runner-ups and register his second title.

Besides his win, he performed excellently at the Hero Dubai Classic, the South African Open, and the BMW International Open, where he finished 3rd, 2nd, and T7, respectively. His poor performances at the weather-affected Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and Spanish Open dropped his ranks slightly. However, he finished the season strongly with T2 at the Genesis Championship, T23 at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, and T3 at the DP World Tour Championship.

Laurie Canter’s decision highlights how modern golfers increasingly weigh personal stability alongside competitive ambition. For him, staying close to family and continuing to compete on his own terms mattered more than chasing golf’s most traditional pathway.