The LIV Golf season begins in Riyadh on 4 February, and yet the breakaway tour is already in jeopardy. It appears that one golfer has the fate of the series in his hands.
LIV was officially founded in 2021. It is financed by the Saudi PIF (Public Investment Fund) and initially appointed former world number one Greg Norman as its CEO.
In total, 14 major champions left the PGA Tour for LIV, including high-profile names such as Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau and John Rahm.
However, last year, Norman was replaced as CEO by Scott O’Neil and five-time major winner Brooks Koepka announced that he was also departing. 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed has since followed suit.
On 12 January, the PGA Tour established a “Returning Member Program” that gave certain players who had left the opportunity to rejoin.
The significance of the Returning Member Program
The program was only eligible for players who met certain conditions:
- Players must not have been a member of the PGA Tour for at least two years
- Players must have won a major championship in the years 2022-25
This meant that Bryson DeChambeau, John Rahm, Cameron Smith and Brooks Koepka were the only men who could rejoin the PGA Tour.
Koepka activated the clause straightaway, saying: “I understand there are financial penalties… and I accept those.”
But the program expired on 2 February, and the remaining three players have stayed with LIV, at least for now.
Bryson DeChambeau is now in a strong negotiating position
DeChambeau is now the only remaining player on the LIV tour to have won a major title while playing LIV golf.
He is also hugely popular for his YouTube channel and is the most-followed golfer on Instagram.
The PGA’s statement said that the Returning Member Program was launched “in response to fan research that shows a clear desire to see the best golfers competing together more often.”
DeChambeau certainly fits that category, finishing in the top 10 in three of the four majors in 2025. His following also ensures he will attract millions of eyes, no matter where he plays.
The American’s contract with LIV expires at the end of this year, and he can ask for pretty much anything he wants. DeChambeau recently increased speculation by saying “we didn’t sign up for 72” in response to LIV’s shift from 54 to 72-hole events.
No route back for Mickelson
The PGA have also shown that they aren’t desperate for Phil Mickelson, who is the most successful golfer to play for LIV, to rejoin.
Mickelson’s last major title came at the 2021PGA Championship, but the PGA Tour opted to only allow major winners from 2022-2025 to return.
They are clearly only interested in players who will compete for majors and boost viewing figures. Mickelson, along with other former major winners such as Bubba Watson, Dustin Johnson and Sergio Garcia, no longer fit that profile.
If DeChambeau is to leave at the end of his contract, LIV is in danger of being labelled a tour for washed-up talents. The PIF must now decide whether meeting all of DeChambeau’s demands, reportedly totalling $500m, is worthwhile.