LIV Golf star set to return after injury ordeal | Golf News

Jinichiro Kozuma is poised to make a extremely anticipated comeback to the LIV Golf circuit in Mexico City this week, having lastly recovered from a persistent injury. Kozuma joined the LIV fold in 2024 as half of Kevin Na’s Iron Heads by way of LIV Promotions. Despite a difficult inaugural season, the Japanese golfer was retained for a second yr.

However, the 2025 season has not unfolded as deliberate for Kozuma, who has but to take part in an occasion. After withdrawing from the primary three tournaments of the season in Riyadh, Adelaide, and Hong Kong, LIV acknowledged growing “uncertainty” surrounding Kozuma’s future and his subsequent aggressive look.

This prompted the league to host its first-ever match qualifier, the place LIV’s 4 reserve gamers – Kalle Samooja, Ollie Schniederjans, Wade Ormsby, and John Catlin – competed for the vacant non permanent spot on the Iron Heads roster forward of the fourth occasion in Singapore final month.

Catlin emerged victorious, securing the spot to play in Singapore. In LIV’s most up-to-date outing in Miami, Song Young-han joined Na and company.

The Japanese star completed tied for twenty fourth in his LIV debut, serving to the Iron Heads end eighth within the workforce standings.

Captain Na is now relieved to no longer depend on injury reserves, as Kozuma returns to the lineup in Mexico this week. “Definitely a lift for us going into our major next week,” welcoming his teammate’s comeback,” Na shared on the LIV website.

“We had a workforce dinner yesterday, frolicked,” Na shared. “It’s great to see Jini back. I do know he is pissed off. He feels dangerous in a means that he is been damage. No finger-pointing – we really feel dangerous for one another. But hopefully we’ll begin catching some momentum and get higher because the week goes.”

While the 30 year old’s return has given the Iron Heads a morale lift, Na, who serves as the captain, conceded that his teammate hasn’t fully recovered yet, acknowledging there’s still progress to be made. “I do know he is bought the potential to come back and begin out firing, nevertheless it’s not simple,” Na remarked.

“I see it within the follow spherical. He’s rusty. He performs that draw, but he is hitting block cuts. But I’ve had follow rounds the place I’ve performed completely horrible, however if you tee off, it is tremendous.”

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The Iron Heads have had a difficult 2025 season, compounded by instability of their fourth-player slot.

At the underside of the LIV year-long workforce standings, Na’s Iron Heads are but to attain a podium end at any occasion. Their best efficiency this yr was an eighth-place end in Miami earlier within the month.