Dustin Johnson's former LIV Golf teammate 'reinstated' to PGA Tour

Dustin Johnson's former LIV Golf teammate Pat Perez appears to have been reinstated to the PGA Tour. 

The 49-year-old was among the first wave of players to be recruited by the PIF-backed league four years ago.

He linked up with two-time major champion Johnson, former Masters winner Patrick Reed and Talor Gooch in the 4 Aces quartet. 

Perez played three full seasons with LIV Golf, amassing more than $21m in prize money, before finishing in the relegation zone in 2024. 

The American then decided to swap his clubs for a microphone, accepting a role as LIV's on-course commentator last season. 

Perez will not be involved in LIV broadcasts this year given he always made it clear that once he turned 50 he wanted to tee up on the senior circuit. 

But Perez faced a one-year suspension because the PGA Tour still deems media work for LIV Golf as "unauthorized". 

Former PGA Tour winner turned golf YouTuber Wesley Bryan is in the same predicament having appeared in "The Duels". 

Non-members of the PGA Tour face suspensions of one year from the date of participation in an unauthorized event. 

The Tour's policy reads:

"Non-member players who participate in an unauthorized event will be subject to the Non-Member Policy which prohibits play in PGA Tour events for one year from the date of participation in an unauthorized event.

"Promotion of and association with an unauthorized event is considered participation in the event for the purposes of this regulation.

"Should players seek to reinstate their membership in the future, they would be subject to disciplinary action for violations incurred as a member and any violations to the Non-Member Policy."

Perez has now updated his Instagram bio, stating that he has been 'reinstated' to the PGA Tour. 

Brooks Koepka applies for PGA Tour membership

The news comes as it is understood five-time major winner Brooks Koepka has reapplied for his PGA Tour membership. 

LIV announced on 23 December that Koepka will not return for LIV's fourth full season. 

They claimed the decision was made "amicably" so as to allow Koepka to spend more time with his family. 

The news was all the more surprising given he still had one year left on his reported $100m contract. 

It is unknown what sort of punishment or sanctions Koepka will be subjected to before he plays on the PGA Tour again. 

Some have suggested it will be a matter of when and not if Koepka will play on the PGA Tour again in 2026. 

Koepka's previous LIV event was in August 2025.

It has been reported that the final decision will rest with new chief executive, Brian Rolapp, although there is likely to be input from the PGA Tour's policy board that includes 15-time major champion Tiger Woods. 

Woods, 50, is also the chairman of the Tour's recently created future competitions committee. 

The 82-time PGA Tour winner has been a harsh critic of LIV Golf in the past and his true feelings on allowing LIV players to return with or without penalty is unclear. 

One man who would have no problem teeing up against Koepka again is Rory McIlroy. 

At the turn of the year, McIlroy said he'd welcome any LIV player back as they have "paid their consequences".

McIlroy was referencing the damages to their reputations as well as being locked out of the Official World Golf Ranking system. 

He said: "If it made the overall tour stronger to have Bryson back and whoever else I would be ok with it but I recognise not everyone is in my position - it would be up to the collective group of PGA Tour members to make that decision.

"The thing it [LIV] has done is elevated the majors and the Ryder Cup because only four or five times a year you see all the best players playing together.

"For golf to be relevant I think we need the best players together more often than that."

McIlroy's comments drew sharp criticism from Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee. 

Chamblee said he respected McIlroy but "couldn't disagree more" that Koepka should not, at the very least, be subject to some disciplinary action. 

Koepka is still able to compete in the four majors after earning a five-year exemption for winning the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill.

He has slipped to 244th in the world rankings with LIV events not currently carrying ranking points.

The first PGA Tour event of 2026 is the Sony Open in Hawaii.