PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp said Monday the tour will consider additional pathways to bring back LIV Golf players who want to return, despite no immediate plans to change current re-entry rules.
Rolapp made the comments on “The Pat McAfee Demonstrate,” stating the tour is monitoring developments in the LIV Golf League amid reports that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund may reduce its funding.
He emphasized the tour respects existing player contracts and will not act whereas golfers remain under contract with LIV, but added the tour is open to creating new return options if circumstances change.
Rolapp said the tour’s current returning member program, which allowed Brooks Koepka to rejoin in January after forfeiting equity shares and making a $5 million charitable donation, was a one-time window and not a precedent.
Under that program, Koepka is ineligible for the $100 million FedEx Cup bonus in 2026 and must wait five years to regain player equity shares.
Patrick Reed is expected to return on August 25 when his one-year suspension ends, after failing to reach a new contract with LIV Golf.
Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cameron Smith were eligible to return under the returning member program but missed the February 2 deadline.
Rolapp compared LIV Golf’s impact to that of the AFL and USFL on the NFL, saying competition helps the PGA Tour identify strengths and weaknesses.
How the returning member program works
The program allowed LIV golfers who left the PGA Tour for at least two years and won a major or Players Championship since 2022 to return under strict conditions.
Participants must forfeit player equity shares for five years and are barred from the FedEx Cup bonus pool during that period.
Koepka agreed to these terms and made a $5 million charity donation at the tour’s request to facilitate his return in January.
What happens if LIV Golf loses funding
If LIV Golf loses PIF backing and folds, it remains unclear how long players like Rahm and DeChambeau would wait to return to the PGA Tour.
Rolapp said the tour would react only when an opportunity arises, but its priority is improving the PGA Tour, not managing LIV’s fate.
Can LIV golfers return to the PGA Tour before their contracts end?
No, Rolapp said the tour will respect existing contracts and will not pursue golfers still under contract with LIV Golf.
Is the returning member program still available for other LIV players?
No, Rolapp described the program as a one-time, defined window that expired on February 2 and is not a precedent for future returns.