With the future of LIV Golf constantly hanging on a ledge, there’s a rift between the top two players on the PGA Tour over how to treat those looking to return.
The Renegade League announced it is canceling its scheduled season finale in Michigan next week, meaning this weekend’s event in Indianapolis will be the last of the season. It could also potentially be the last LIV tournament ever, despite CEO Scott O’Niel announcing a new lead investor to replace the Saudi Public Investment Fund (the new benefactor has yet to be named).
That’s because the biggest stars in LIV Golf all appear to be jumping ship. Financial troubles continue to plague the league — the latest being a lawsuit over $1.2 million in unpaid invoices, first reported by Front Office Sports — and reports indicate that the league’s three-time individual champion, Jon Rahm, is all but expected to leave after the season.
PGA Tour players were asked before the BMW Championship in St. Louis for their thoughts on LIV golfers working their way back to the PGA Tour. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler seemed welcoming to the idea of bringing some of the biggest names, such as Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau, back into the fold.
“Have they brought value to LIV?” McIlroy said Aug. 19, “I think the PGA Tour’s in a really good spot.”
Rory McIlroy has long opposed LIV Golf
McIlroy has been among the most outspoken players against LIV since its inception in 2022. He said on Aug. 19 that if more players use the Returning Players Program offered before this season, which Brooks Koepka opted into, then he could be more open to players coming back. “But that has sort of come and gone,” he said; Koepka was the only one of DeChambeau, Rahm, and Cameron Smith to accept that deal.
“I’ve kept my position consistent that LIV has never been a good thing for the game. So, and whatever 2.0 looks like, if it even happens, you know, they say they’re trying to be more collaborative and all that. But I, this is, this is the best platform for the top professional golfers in the world,” McIlroy said.
“Yeah, were there some things at the start of LIV that the PGA Tour could have done better? Sure. But I think that, you know, the guys that went, or you look, you think back to the start with, like, say, Phil (Mickelson) was unhappy with some stuff or whatever it was. Like, surely that just warranted a conversation instead of blowing the entire professional game up and doing something else.”
Scottie Scheffler open to LIV golfers returning
McIlroy’s disinterest in bringing the sport’s biggest stars back under one roof seems to be against the thinking of others on the PGA Tour. Scheffler said on Aug. 19 that getting the World Golf Rankings aligned with one organization would make things much easier.
“When we talk about the best players, you know, LIV has a few players that are really good,” Scheffler said. “I think the depth that we have on our Tour is a bit unmatched, but I think when you look at the higher levels of LIV Golf, there are definitely some players that would provide a lot of value to the Tour, and guys that I love competing against as well.”
He did say a similar punishment to that issued to Koepka and Patrick Reed would be warranted.
LIV Golf players returning to PGA Tour
Brooks Koepka was the first LIV Golf defector to make his way back to the PGA Tour. He gave up five years of player equity in the league and had to cut a $5 million check to charity on top of needing to play his way into Signature Events. He made 16 starts this year with five missed cuts and one top-10 finish at his hometown Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches. Koepka missed the FedEx Cup playoffs, finishing 94th in the playoff standings.
Patrick Reed is also eligible to rejoin the Tour on Aug. 25 with non-member status and can reinstate his membership in 2027. Through the DP World Tour, he can improve his status with a top-10 finish in the season standings (he’s currently in first).
A report from the Tee Times indicated Jon Rahm has an agreement similar to Koepka’s to rejoin the PGA Tour after this LIV season. Other golfers have been playing on the DP World Tour after their LIV contracts expired to regain Tour eligibility.
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