PGA Tour is not considering a new return program for LIV Golf players
South Korean outlet Korea Herald reported that the PGA Tour is currently not considering a new return program for LIV Golf players. Tour CEO Brian Rolapp said this during a conference call on eligibility criteria for the PGA Tour’s new competition model, scheduled to launch in 2028.
According to Rolapp, the PGA Tour is not working on a program similar to the one offered to Brooks Koepka in January. He added that the tour’s leadership is focused on what is best for the organization.
Terms of Koepka’s return
Koepka exited the final year of his LIV Golf contract early and received an offer to return to the PGA Tour through a program for players reinstating their tour membership. Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Cameron Smith later received similar offers. They were given three weeks to make a decision, with no guarantee that such an opportunity would be available in the future.
Koepka and the other players offered a return had five-year exemptions based on major championship victories. Koepka had to donate $5 million to charity and could not receive player equity participation grants for five years. He was also not eligible to play in Signature Events with $20 million purses without qualifying based on his performance. Koepka did not qualify for any of these tournaments and did not qualify for the PGA Tour postseason.
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Uncertainty surrounding LIV Golf
LIV Golf filed under Chapter 11 procedure last week and is planning a new model without funding from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. At the same time, it remains unknown how many players will stay in the less lucrative LIV 2.0 project.
Rahm, who has one year remaining on a contract signed before the 2024 LIV season, said he cannot answer questions about his future plans until the current season and the legal process are completed. His contract has also been called into question due to LIV Golf’s Chapter 11 filing.
Patrick Reed, who leads the Race to Dubai rankings, and Eugenio Chacarra, who is in third place, may be eligible for PGA Tour cards through the European Tour. Both left LIV Golf more than a year ago, so their one-year PGA Tour ban has already expired. Austrian Bernd Wiesberger is in the same position.
