LIV Golf will finally release its playing roster for its 2023 league next week. Mito Pereira – the young Chilean who came so close to winning his first major last year – is expected to be among the latest signings. The Saudi-funded circuit will resume next month, with the £20-million event in Mexico teeing off a 14-tournament season in which 48 players will compete for combined purses of more than £330m. LIV originally indicated that they would unveil the talent list at the end of November but then put it back to end of December. The enterprise funded by the Saudi Kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund has endured a turbulent close season since Dustin Johnson finished off the inaugural season by taking his winnings to more than $36m at Trump Doral in November. The world No 44–- who agonisingly double-bogeyed the 18th at the USPGA last May to miss a play-off eventually won by Justin Thomas – is a close friend of countryman Joaquin Niemann, the 22nd ranked player who switched last year. Some might scoff at the importance of a Pereira defection, but he played in the Presidents Cup in November and is a competitor with huge promise. His presence would strengthen LIV’s Latin-America contingent still further, with Mexicans Abraham Ancer and Carlos Ortiz, both PGA Tour winners, already ensconced. World No 4 Patrick Cantlay has consistently kept the door ajar, but appears to be sticking with the traditionalists at the moment, while Hideki Matsuyama remains a prime target.