Can LIV Golfers return to PGA Tour if the Saudi league shuts down? Scenario explained

LIV Golf is reportedly on shaky ground, with reports suggesting Saudi Arabia’s PIF might soon withdraw its financial backing. Should the league fold, players could face difficulties in returning to the PGA Tour under the current regulations.

Established in 2022, LIV Golf emerged after the PIF declared its breakaway league, offering substantial prize money. This attracted many PGA Tour stars to join the Saudi-funded league on significant contracts.

Prominent figures such as Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau, Cameron Smith, Patrick Reed, Sergio Garcia, Bubba Watson, and later Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton became the league’s leading players. Consequently, the DP World Tour and PGA Tour swiftly suspended them. Although they could still participate in the European Tour, they were barred from competing in the American Tour.

Currently, players wishing to leave LIV Golf and return to the PGA Tour must observe a one-year cooling-off period. Earlier this year, Brooks Koepka managed to rejoin the PGA Tour through a different route. The five-time major winner agreed to strict terms and was also required to donate $5 million to charity.

Patrick Reed is another notable player who departed LIV Golf, yet he is not expected to return to the PGA Tour until later this year. Laurie Canter lost his membership in 2024 and spent the previous season on the DP World Tour. Afterward, he regained his PGA Tour card but chose to return to the Saudi-funded league.

With the future of LIV Golf uncertain, the PGA Tour might consider relaxing its rules to welcome back players like Rahm, Hatton, and DeChambeau. The next steps for both tours will be closely watched in the coming days.

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Who are the current members of the LIV Golf?

Here’s a look at the current LIV Golf roster:

4Aces GC

• Dustin Johnson
• Thomas Detry
• Anthony Kim
• Thomas Pieters

Cleeks Golf Club

• Martin Kaymer
• Richard Bland
• Adrian Meronk
• Victor Perez

Crushers GC

• Bryson DeChambeau
• Paul Casey
• Charles Howell III
• Anirban Lahiri

Fireballs GC

• Sergio Garcia
• Josele Ballester
• Luis Masaveu
• David Puig

HyFlyers GC

• Phil Mickelson
• Michael La Sasso
• Brendan Steele
• Cameron Tringale

Korean Golf Club

• Byeong Hun An
• Minkyu Kim
• Danny Lee
• Younghan Song

Legion XIII

• Jon Rahm
• Tyrrell Hatton
• Tom McKibbin
• Caleb Surratt

Majesticks Golf Club

• Ian Poulter
• Lee Westwood
• Laurie Canter
• Sam Horsfield

RangeGoats GC

• Bubba Watson
• Ben Campbell
• Peter Uihlein
• Matthew Wolff

Ripper GC

• Cameron Smith
• Lucas Herbert
• Marc Leishman
• Elvis Smylie

Smash GC

• Talor Gooch
• Jason Kokrak
• Graeme McDowell
• Harold Varner III

Southern Guards GC

• Louis Oosthuizen
• Dean Burmester
• Branden Grace
• Charl Schwartzel

Torque GC

• Joaquin Niemann
• Abraham Ancer
• Sebastián Muñoz
• Carlos Ortiz

Wild Card

• Yosuke Asaji
• Björn Hellgren
• Richard T. Lee
• Travis Smyth
• Miguel Tabuena
• Scott Vincent

Edited by Shobhit Kukreti