The announcement today that Michael La Sasso is joining the HyFlyers is a big win. If you haven’t heard, join the list of people scouring YouTube for footage of his swing.
Bagging the top college amateur is no mean feat for LIV Golf, and it makes sense that kids leaving college would see the guaranteed cash upfront and a fun lifestyle ahead as a bit of a no brainer.
The 2025 NCAA individual champion has a unique move, squatting before impact like Rory, sliding through the ball like….no one else I’ve seen. Matt Wolff but more on plane.
He’s cool, hits it miles, and a Breezy Golf guy, announced late last year by Bob Does Sports. If you don’t know what this means, the new era of golf passed you by.
It’s a big play for LIV and it’s one that will likely work. In a world where the college guys are as good as the pros, coming out and winning straightaway (see Ludvig Aberg) then this guy should follow suit. You may have heard of some previous winners of the Div 1 title, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Ben Crenshaw.
But….this side of 2009, when the event became stroke and matchplay under the NCAA banner, the win hasn’t translated to huge post college success, save for Bryson DeChambeau in 2015. John Peterson, Braden Thornberry, Broc Everett, Turk Pettit, Cameron Wilson, all never reached the heights they were supposed to after winning the title.
If you’re going to sign a college player you should get the best one, and that’s what LIV and the HyFlyers have done. Mickelson has stated in no uncertain terms that the vision for LIV is to get behind these college teams and star players, and that means early investment into the cream of the Mississippi crop, with La Sasso likely being the first of many.
The headline you’ll see is “reigning champ forfeits Masters Exemption” as La Sasso can no longer tee it up at Augusta in ‘26 - but as Mickelson has been trying to tell us, the LIV team vision is bigger than the next 4 months. If all goes to plan, La Sasso will be getting into the majors through LIV pathways, and I expect to see him tee it up at Augusta when he’s qualified in his own way (exceptions through invitation/accumulating points through other Tours, or banking that LIV events soon will provide world ranking points).
Finally, if you’ve made it this far, please appreciate the ability to drop in a LIV team, a college golf team, and a Sandra Bullock movie into the title.
The cynical viewer has observed that his swing can only last a few more years before the spine gives out, but anyone who averages 69.48 for a college season clearly has a lot of aspects working well.
Keen to see the reaction in the next few weeks.
Pat.
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