PGA Tour and LIV Golf membership developments

The relationship between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf has shifted following the bankruptcy of LIV Golf, which occurred after the Saudi Public Investment Fund withdrew its funding.

Initially, PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp addressed potential return paths for LIV Golf players, noting that those returning must be free from previous contractual obligations. He highlighted that Brooks Koepka had fulfilled such requirements and mentioned that players are typically subject to a one-year ban from PGA Tour-sanctioned events following their last appearance in the rival league. The tour also began reviewing rules regarding dual-tour players and membership status.

Following the collapse of LIV Golf, Rolapp announced there will be no immediate returning-member program for players seeking to rejoin the US circuit in 2027. Instead, players such as Cameron Smith and Jon Rahm will be required to play at least one year on the DP World Tour before accessing a direct pathway back to the PGA Tour. Jon Rahm is reportedly the largest creditor of the bankrupt league, potentially owed a nine-figure sum. As LIV Golf attempts to relaunch for 2027, legal efforts are underway to reject remaining player signing-on deals, which may impact players like Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton.

In September 2026, Rolapp reaffirmed that the PGA Tour is not contemplating a returning-member program similar to the one offered to Koepka earlier in the year. This decision affects players including Cameron Smith, Jon Rahm, and Bryson DeChambeau, who previously declined immediate return pathways. Rolapp emphasized that the organization is built on ‘meritocracy, membership rules, and accountability,’ stating that players must earn their place to maintain competitive balance.