Former PGA Tour commentator: LIV Golf will have 'no issue' keeping star players

Former PGA Tour commentator turned LIV Golf broadcaster Jerry Foltz says it 'won't be an issue' for the breakaway tour to keep hold of their star players.

The PIF-backed league started in 2022 after luring several top ranked golfers from the PGA Tour. 

Major champions such as Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Cameron Smith, Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed and Dustin Johnson were among the first wave of recruits. 

They were later joined by former Masters champion Jon Rahm and his European Ryder Cup teammate Tyrrell Hatton. 

But two questions have always been left unanswered. 

What happens when their contracts expire? And should the players expect more gargantuan signing-on fees to extend their deals?

It is understood several players' contracts expire at the end of 2026.

The aforementioned Koepka and DeChambeau fall into that category and there has been speculation that the former wishes to return to the PGA Tour. 

DeChambeau has flatly denied wanting to play anywhere else.

Foltz told This Week In Golf he's not worried about LIV's future. 

"I'm not concerned about that at all because I haven't heard any rumblings directly from any of the players about them being unhappy," he said. 

"Obviously, when a new start-up comes into business there is a new acquisition phase for talent and that is the phase we went through in 2022 and 2023. 

"I [also] think retaining talent is not going to be an issue."

What has Brooks Koepka said about his future?

Former Masters champ Fred Couples claimed in March that Koepka wanted to rejoin the PGA Tour when his contract with LIV expires.

As it stands, golfers that compete in LIV events have to serve a one-year suspension before they are eligible to return. 

The rule was introduced in 2023. 

It seems unlikely Koepka would accept having to serve a 12-month suspension in order to play a handful of PGA Tour events and the majors. 

In response to Couples' claim, Koepka said: "I talked to Fred quite a bit, but we don't go too much into detail about what's going on. 

"Like I've said before, I'm not in those rooms. I've got a contract obligation out here to fulfil, and then we’ll see what happens. 

"I don't know where I'm going, so I don't know how everybody else does.

"Right now, I'm just focused on how do I play better, how do I play better in the majors, how does this team win, and then we’ll figure out next year and how to play better again. 

"It's the same thing. It's just a revolving cycle. I've got nothing. Everybody else seems to know more than I do."

For his part, DeChambeau has made it clear his future is with LIV. 

Former World No.1 Lee Westwood labelled rumours he wants an exit 'codswallop'. 

"I'm very excited about the future of LIV Golf," DeChambeau previously said. 

"I'm very excited to be the captain of the Crushers and continue our legacy that we're starting to create.

"That's my goal, to create this lasting legacy where we impact millions and millions of golfers' lives around the world. 

"That should tell you everything you [need to] know."