Tyrrell Hatton practically had one foot off the podium. His LIV team, Legion XIII, was accepting its team championship trophies at LIV Indianapolis in a subdued celebration. He said he had a flight to catch. There was no time for lingering. He, and many of his fellow LIV pros, have to figure out what comes next.

For five players, including LIV’s youngest and latest winner, Michael La Sasso, the next chapter is DP World Tour Q-School. Huddersfield GC in England hosted 81 players for the First Stage, including three LIV golfers: Peter Uihlein, Josele Ballester and Luis Masaveu.

Uihlein began playing in Europe in 2012, winning in his sophomore season at the Madeira Islands Open. He played for five more seasons on the European Tour and has played every Dunhill Links since joining LIV. Given his experience, he was a favorite to advance through Huddersfield. But Q-School can menace even the most seasoned pros.

After rounds of 74-73, Uihlein was +7, making the 36-hole cut by a shot. He was 16 shots behind the leader and nine shots behind the projected score to advance to Second Stage (top 19 and ties).

Round 3 brought the kind of dreaded winds that knock golf balls around like kites. One player, who played a few holes before play was suspended because conditions became unplayable, said he chose a 9-iron from 78 yards…and hit it 62. On the following hole, the same player said his entire group nearly hit 7-irons out of bounds on a par-3. The player estimated the wind battered their golf balls 45 yards off their starting lines. An experienced player needing to make a big move up the leaderboard prays for conditions like that.

But Uihlein was nowhere to be found. He was disqualified after not showing up for his tee time. Next season for Uihlein may hinge on whether LIV 2.0 launches.

Spain’s Josele Ballester was a different story. The 23-year-old made a double and two bogeys on the back nine in Round 2 to fall to one-over for the tournament, three back of the projected number. Another one-over in Round 3 left him outside the number.


The former Sun Devil won the 2023 European Amateur and took the U.S. Amateur crown in 2024 before joining Fireballs GC. Ballester captured the Asian Tour’s Saudi Invitational in 2025 and the million-dollar check that went with it. He wasn’t going to disappear in the final round of the First Stage.

A clean card with five birdies totaled 65, three-under for the tournament, and moved Ballester up to T-8, three shots inside the number. He’s moving on.

Ballester’s Fireballs GC teammate, Luis Masaveu, eagled the final hole in Round 3 to make his task less challenging in the final round. The 23-year-old joined the Fireballs this season. After a tough year, he finished in the “drop zone”—48th in the season-long standings. Round 4 of Q-School carried even more significance for Masaveu.

The final round was a grind, but a birdie on the 14th hole and four closing pars added up to a one-over 71, even par for the tournament and good enough to advance…barely.

Former LIV golfer Chase Koepka also teed it up at Huddersfield but came up a single shot short of advancing. The 32-year-old played two seasons on LIV and made about $6.75 million before losing his status. He battled injuries, had surgery and came back to competitive golf in 2025. A T-4 at the Asian Tour’s Taiwan Glass Taifong Open was an encouraging sign, and he finished the season 66th on the Asian Tour Order of Merit. Koepka Monday qualified for a Korn Ferry Tour event last season and after this anguishing Q-School, will likely head to PGA Tour qualifying next.

Other notables from Huddersfield: Norway’s Michael Mjaaseth took medalist honors at 9-under. 38-year-old Irishman and former Walker Cupper Niall Kearney made six birdies in the final round to reach three-under for the tournament and advance. Former Florida Gator and AJGA No. 1-ranked player Joe Pagdin advanced at two-under over four rounds. Nine-time APGA winner Marcus Byrd tied for 11th at two-under.

Amateur Kipp Popert had a heartbreaking final round. Popert, who was born with cerebral palsy and won a fourth consecutive U.S. Adaptive Open this year, shot six-over in the final round to miss by three. The finish derailed one of the best underdog stories in all of golf. The No. 1 disabled golfer in the world has endured 10 extensive surgeries on his legs and feet. Golf has given Popert a reason to keep pushing. This latest disappointment won’t keep him down for long.

Next week in Germany, Golf and Country Club Seddiner See hosts La Sasso and Yosuke Asaji, a wildcard LIV member.

Seven months ago, La Sasso left Ole Miss to join LIV. After winning in Indianapolis, he said he wasn’t sure what came next. Next week, he’ll be back to school in Germany for the First Stage of DPWT qualifying. He hopes to graduate from this one.