Every golfer dreams of stepping onto the iconic grounds of Augusta National, but Michael La Sasso recently chose to pass on that opportunity. The NCAA individual champion from last year, who triumphed at California’s Omni La Costa Resort & Spa, found himself disqualified from the Masters after signing with LIV Golf.
As the current NCAA individual champion, La Sasso could have competed in the next Masters if he stayed an amateur, but his transition to a professional golfer via a contract with the Saudi-backed league has now taken that chance away.
He stated, “This is a rare opportunity to learn from one of the greatest players in the history of the game, and I do not take it lightly. LIV Golf has allowed me to compete at the highest level on the world stage and thrive in a team environment, especially the camaraderie and support that characterizes High Flyers GC. My focus is to continue to learn, improve, and do everything I can to help the team succeed.”
La Sasso, who played for Ole Miss, helped the Rebels secure an eighth-place finish in the team competition, finishing just ahead of Pichakusun Maishon from Texas A&M to claim the title. He also outperformed Jose Luis Ballester from Arizona State by six strokes. Interestingly, Ballester decided to join LIV right after last year’s Masters, where he had qualified for the 2024 U.S. Amateur.
Highflyers GC, part of LIV, is captained by Phil Mickelson, one of the prominent players who joined the league back in 2022.
While La Sasso is now focused on his new path, it’s a bit surprising—perhaps a bit bittersweet—that he has turned his back on such a legendary event.
