PGA Tour Champions star reveals players “don’t want” LIV Golf arrivals

PGA Tour Champions star Steven Alker revealed that some players on circuit “don’t want” guys coming over from LIV Golf for the 2028 season and beyond.

Alker was speaking to the media ahead of the season finale, the Charles Schwab Cup Championship, regarding the future of the tour and just how different it might look next year.

"It's a Catch-22,” said the two-time winner of the season-long points race.

"We want players to keep the profile of the tour up. And then you got guys on the tour who don't want those guys at all.

"I'm not gonna name names, but that has been talked about on the PAC board and that's an ongoing thing. Where do you draw the line? Who you should be penalized more than some other guy, you know?

“I think that's going on right now. Some guys have gotten six months, some guys got a year [suspension]. Do we change the rules for those guys coming out? There's a lot of talk going on right now. ... but that's up to the player directors and our president, you know, for where that goes. But I can tell you there are talks going on. And I know it's very split."

LIV Golf players could eye PGA Tour Champions next year

There are several former LIV Golf stars who are either already 50, or fast approaching in the coming years, which means they could target a spot on the PGA Tour Champions from 2028 onwards.

Ian Poulter made his debut on the circuit at the US Senior Open earlier this year, finishing forth at Scioto Country Club.

Henrik Stenson has been competing on the tour as a non-member, having left LIV Golf in August 2025. The Swede turned 50 in April. Sergio Garcia still has a few years until turning 50, but he could also target the Champions Tour in the near future, although his eyes are set on a DPWT return in 2027.

Lee Westwood is another former LIV player who might perhaps take up residency in the senior circuit, although that could take a while.

"I currently am unemployed. I haven't signed up to anything anywhere. So, yeah, I haven't made a decision on anything yet," he explained during an appearance on the Chipping Forecast podcast.

He could return to the DPWT, but would have to serve a ten-tournament suspension, with the deadline of November 12 fast approaching.

"I know that if I sign up on the 12th of November, I've then got to serve a 10-tournament suspension, which takes me through the South African Open," he said.

"And I've looked at the start of next year, and I'm going to enter the Sunningdale Foursomes with Sam, my son, first week in March.

"And then there's a senior's event the week after the Masters, PGA Senior's Championship in Florida. So that might be the first two tournaments that I play before teaming up in Turkey if I did re-sign with the European Tour, but I'm not even sure about that."

While some players on the over 50s circuit are against those mentioned teeing it up, Steve Stricker has stated that the likes of Westwood and Poulter “would be hits here on the Champions Tour”.

The 2021 USA Ryder Cup captain even went as far to say that “this tour could use that” when referring to the former LIV Golfers.