LIV Golf stars warned PGA Tour return in 2027 is ‘remote’ as futures hang in balance

LIV Golf players hoping to return to the PGA Tour in 2027 have been warned that their chances currently look “remote”, according to Golfweek columnist Eamon Lynch.

Lynch revealed that he recently asked an executive to assess the likelihood of a current LIV player competing on the PGA Tour next season.

“Remote,” came the response.

“Which isn’t ‘zero’,” Lynch added.

Lynch's latest comments come at a pivotal moment for LIV Golf, with the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) no longer funding the league moving forwards and discussions continuing over a potential LIV 2.0 model backed by new investment from BC Partners.

It remains unclear how many players will commit to the next iteration of LIV, with speculation continuing that several high-profile names could leave. 

Jon Rahm is among those most heavily linked with a departure, while his Legion XIII teammate Tyrrell Hatton has also been tipped as a potential LIV exit.

GolfMagic understands LIV players have until October 18 to confirm whether they intend to participate in the proposed LIV 2.0, giving them a little longer than the October 13 deadline currently being widely reported elsewhere.

For those who do leave, however, Lynch believes a return to the PGA Tour is unlikely to be straightforward.

In his latest column for Golfweek, Lynch wrote that even players who become free to approach PGA Tour commissioner Brian Rolapp could discover that returning to the circuit comes with significant conditions.

Lynch suggested that players such as Rahm, Hatton and Joaquin Niemann could potentially strengthen the PGA Tour's competitive product, but may need to demonstrate “sufficient humility” over their decision to join LIV.

He also suggested that returning players could be asked to forgo equity for an extended period and make a significant charitable donation, pointing to Brooks Koepka's reported $5 million contribution as a precedent from earlier this season. 

Meanwhile, the DP World Tour looks set to benefit from any LIV Golf departures.

A DP World Tour spokesperson told Lynch there had been a “high volume of inbound interest and enquiries in recent weeks” and that the former European Tour was exploring how those players could potentially be accommodated, provided they meet its membership regulations and are free from contractual restrictions.

Lynch claimed, however, that returning LIV players could face restrictions on which events they are eligible to enter.

With LIV players now facing a crucial decision over their futures, the coming weeks could determine not only the make-up of LIV 2.0, but also whether some of the biggest names in the game spend 2027 attempting to rebuild their careers on the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour — or both.