NCAA champ Michael La Sasso leaving Ole Miss to join Phil Mickelson’s LIV Golf team

Michael La Sasso, the reigning NCAA individual champion, has joined LIV Golf.

The Ole Miss senior, who is teaming up with Phil Mickelson’s HyFlyers GC, is expected to debut at next month’s LIV opener in Saudi Arabia, meaning he will forfeit his remaining college eligibility and leave the Rebels before his final semester.

La Sasso, 21, also had an exemption lined up at the Masters this April, courtesy of his one-shot win at La Costa, though that was provided he remained amateur.

“I’m incredibly excited to join HyFlyers GC and take this next step in my career,” La Sasso said in a release. “It’s a rare opportunity to learn from one of the greatest players in the history of the game, and I don’t take that lightly. LIV Golf allows me to compete at the highest level on a global stage, and I thrive in a team environment, especially one with the camaraderie and support that defines HyFlyers GC. My focus is on learning, continuing to improve, and doing everything I can to help our team succeed.”

Added Mickelson: “Michael is one of the most exciting young players in the game today, bringing a competitive fire that’s evident every time he tees it up. He combines tremendous power and speed with an exceptional feel for the game. Beyond his talent, his personality, work ethic, and commitment to being a great teammate make him a terrific addition.”

After playing his freshman year at North Carolina State, La Sasso was a first-team All-American in each of the past two seasons for Ole Miss. He won three times last season, including NCAAs, and finished second in the national rankings. He earned a spot on the U.S. Walker Cup team last summer, too, though he ended last fall ranked No. 100, not cracking the top 15 in both of his college starts.

La Sasso made six PGA Tour starts as an amateur last year, missing five cuts, including at the 2025 U.S. Open. His most recent Tour appearance, at last fall’s Sanderson Farms Championship, ended in La Sasso receiving a two-shot penalty for “improving the conditions affecting his stroke” before missing the cut.

The Rebels, ranked No. 10 in the country after last season’s NCAA semifinal finish, still have seven players on the roster following La Sasso’s departure, though just three have seen significant action – Cameron Tankersley, Tom Fischer and Cohen Trolio.