Ryder Cup cult hero turned down last-minute Liv Golf deal to retire aged 33

Victor Dubuisson, a former Ryder Cup winner, has ended his professional golf career at the age of 33 to become a coach based in Tenerife. The French golfer, who retired seven months ago, now focuses on coaching and developing custom-made programs for golfers. Despite a late offer from LIV Golf to continue his career, Dubuisson chose to stick with his new path.

In an interview with Bunkered, Dubuisson explained his decision to decline the offer from LIV Golf: “[LIV] offered me an invite at the last minute. I had many, many plans for coaching and it was difficult to throw it all away. One year of preparation for this project and I didn’t want to again be in between two things. That’s why I didn’t take the invite. I prefer that another guy got the invite and used it well.”

Dubuisson’s professional golf career began in 2010, and he rose to become the 15th-best golfer in the world. He secured three professional wins on the European and French tours, with his most notable achievement being part of Team Europe’s victory in the 2014 Ryder Cup. However, towards the end of his career, Dubuisson struggled with the demands of professional golf, leading to his decision to retire.

Reflecting on his final seasons, Dubuisson said: “I was always stuck between coaching and playing. I didn’t want to go to tournaments… I was feeling good with my game, but I was just feeling bad with all the travelling and I felt like I wanted to do something else. I was not mentally in a good place. I knew I was not happy anymore with this life. After 13 years I was tired of it and wanted to have a different life.”

Now settled in Tenerife, Dubuisson approaches coaching with the same dedication he had as a player. “I have the same mentality for coaching as I did for golf when I was at the top. I don’t just do it to spend the time. I have really big targets and motivation. For me, it’s not a job. It’s the same mentality as competition. Now I could become one of the main coaches in Europe, not really for a professional but for every level,” he stated.

Dubuisson’s new coaching facility in Tenerife offers tailored programs for golfers of all levels, allowing him to share his expertise and passion for the sport in a new way.