LIV Golf: Harold Varner III joins Smash GC as teams complete line-ups for 2026 season

Captain Talor Gooch, Harold Varner III, Graeme McDowell and Jason Kokrak of Smash GC pose together during the LIV Golf Week at the Dutchman’s Pipe Golf Club on Monday, January 12, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jon Ferrey/LIV Golf)

NEW YORK (January 21, 2026) — Smash GC of the LIV Golf League today announced its official roster for the 2026 season with the addition of Harold Varner III. Varner joins newly minted captain Talor Gooch and returning veterans Jason Kokrak and Graeme McDowell.

Smash GC enters 2026 with a roster designed to blend winning pedigree, global experience, and competitive edge, reinforcing the team’s identity as one of LIV Golf’s most battle-tested lineups. Varner brings a compelling mix of global experience and personal drive to Smash GC’s 2026 roster. Varner made his LIV Golf debut in 2022, earning his first LIV Golf individual win in 2023 at LIV Golf DC after sinking a hole-out from the bunker for a birdie mid-round to claim a one-stroke victory. He joins Smash GC after a 2025 steady performance with the 4Aces GC that saw him finish in the top-10 four times.

“Smash GC is a team that competes with confidence and edge,” Varner said. “I’m excited to join a group that believes in what it’s building, and is focused on winning. I’m ready to get to work and contribute meaningfully in 2026.”

Gooch will lead Smash GC in 2026 after being officially named Captain in December 2025. One of LIV Golf’s most accomplished and consistent performers, Gooch brings a performance-driven mindset and a deep understanding of team competition as Smash GC looks to elevate its competitive ceiling. He reunites with Varner after the two played together with the RangeGoats GC during the 2023 season, which was both Gooch’s and Varner’s most successful LIV Golf Season. In addition to Varner’s LIV Golf DC win, Gooch won three tournaments and the season-long Individual Championship. Rounding out the 2026 roster are Kokrak, who has delivered key individual and team performances throughout his LIV Golf tenure, and McDowell, the 2010 U.S. Open champion and longtime Ryder Cup standout who brought steady play to the 2025 season combined with his experience, leadership and competitive instincts.

“Adding Harold to Smash GC is a big move for us, and I couldn’t be more excited to reunite with him in 2026,” Gooch said. “He’s proven he can compete at the highest level, and as captain, I’m excited about how he strengthens our lineup and pushes our standards forward. We’re building a team that expects to contend every week, and Harold is a big part of that.”

Smash GC enters the new season following a 2025 campaign defined by resilience and competitiveness across the LIV Golf calendar. With strong team performances and consistent individual contributions, the club laid a foundation it now aims to build upon under refreshed leadership and a reinforced roster.