Reigning NCAA champion Michael La Sasso has turned professional and joined LIV Golf, forfeiting his senior season at Ole Miss and his coveted invitation to the Masters. The 21-year-old signed with Phil Mickelson's HyFlyers GC, a move that ends his collegiate eligibility and his chance to compete at Augusta National as an amateur.

La Sasso, a first-team All-American who led Ole Miss to the NCAA semifinals, cited the opportunity to learn from a legend like Mickelson and compete globally. His decision follows a trend of young talent choosing LIV's guaranteed money and team format over the traditional PGA Tour path, a choice that now costs him a major championship debut.

The former Walker Cup player missed five of six PGA Tour cuts last season, with his best finish a tie for 44th at the 3M Open. LIV's season begins in two weeks in Saudi Arabia, where La Sasso will make his professional debut. This move solidifies LIV's continued recruitment of top collegiate talent, reshaping golf's future pipeline.