Ryder Cup winner rejected last-minute LIV Golf offer to quit sport aged 33

Victor Dubuisson hung up his clubs at the age of 33 last year - but he regrets not stepping away from golf sooner.

The Frenchman, who won the Ryder Cup with Europe in 2014, officially called time on his playing career last December to focus on a new path in coaching. Despite this, LIV Golf tempted him with an eleventh-hour offer to extend his playing days.

Yet, having dedicated a year to setting up his coaching business, Dubisson chose to stay true to his new direction, turning down the lucrative opportunity in hopes it would benefit someone more committed to competing.

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Speaking to Bunkered , Dubuisson said: "(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."

Now, Dubuisson is imparting his knowledge at a state-of-the-art facility in Tenerife, crafting bespoke programs to elevate the skills of aspiring golfers. Turning pro in 2010, Dubuisson climbed as high as 15th in the world rankings. While he never clinched a major, his resume boasts three professional victories across the European and French tours.

His crowning glory came with Team Europe's triumph at the 2014 Ryder Cup. However, as his passion for the sport waned, culminating in withdrawals from 15 tournaments over his last three seasons, Dubuisson found solace in retirement.

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Dubuisson added: "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."

He continued: "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."