The LIV Golf season begins in Riyadh on 4 February, and but the breakaway tour is already in jeopardy. It seems that one golfer has the destiny of the sequence in his fingers.
LIV was formally based in 2021. It’s financed by the Saudi PIF (Public Funding Fund) and initially appointed former world primary Greg Norman as its CEO.
In whole, 14 main champions left the PGA Tour for LIV, together with high-profile names equivalent to Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau and John Rahm.
Nonetheless, final yr, Norman was changed as CEO by Scott O’Neil and five-time main winner Brooks Koepka introduced that he was additionally departing. 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed has since {followed} swimsuit.
On 12 January, the PGA Tour established a “Returning Member Program” that gave sure gamers who had left the chance to rejoin.
The importance of the Returning Member Program
This system was solely eligible for gamers who met sure situations:
- Gamers should not have been a member of the PGA Tour for at the very least two years
- Gamers will need to have gained a serious championship within the years 2022-25
This meant that Bryson DeChambeau, John Rahm, Cameron Smith and Brooks Koepka have been the one males who may rejoin the PGA Tour.
Koepka activated the clause straightaway, saying: “I perceive there are monetary penalties… and I settle for these.”
However this system expired on 2 February, and the remaining three gamers have stayed with LIV, at the very least for now.
Bryson DeChambeau is now in a powerful negotiating place
DeChambeau is now the one remaining participant on the LIV tour to have gained a serious title whereas taking part in LIV golf.
He’s additionally massively standard for his YouTube channel and is the most-followed golfer on Instagram.
The PGA’s assertion stated that the Returning Member Program was launched “in response to fan analysis that exhibits a transparent want to see the perfect golfers competing collectively extra usually.”
DeChambeau definitely suits that class, ending within the prime 10 in three of the 4 majors in 2025. His following additionally ensures he’ll entice tens of millions of eyes, irrespective of the place he performs.
The American’s contract with LIV expires on the finish of this yr, and he can ask for just about something he desires. DeChambeau just lately elevated hypothesis by saying “we didn’t join 72” in response to LIV’s shift from 54 to 72-hole occasions.
No route again for Mickelson
The PGA have additionally proven that they aren’t determined for Phil Mickelson, who’s probably the most profitable golfer to play for LIV, to rejoin.
Mickelson’s final main title got here on the 2021PGA Championship, however the PGA Tour opted to solely enable main winners from 2022-2025 to return.
They’re clearly solely all in favour of gamers who will compete for majors and increase viewing figures. Mickelson, together with different former main winners equivalent to Bubba Watson, Dustin Johnson and Sergio Garcia, not match that profile.
If DeChambeau is to go away on the finish of his contract, LIV is at risk of being labelled a tour for washed-up abilities. The PIF should now determine whether or not assembly all of DeChambeau’s calls for, reportedly totalling $500m, is worth it.
Do you agree?
