Pro reveals when former LIV Golf captain will be allowed back on PGA Tour

Former LIV Golf captain Kevin Na will be permitted to return to the PGA Tour next January, according to English pro Eddie Pepperell. 

Na was among the first players to be recruited by LIV Golf when the breakaway circuit launched in 2022. 

The 42-year-old American spent four seasons with the league, captaining the Iron Heads before he appeared to be unceremoniously dumped as part of a team rebrand last winter. 

According to a leaked memo to PGA Tour players in January, Na had his membership reinstated at the same time Brooks Koepka took advantage of a returning member programme after leaving LIV Golf.

However, Na's return date wasn't known as he still faced "disciplinary action for outstanding violations of the regulations". 

Pepperell told the latest edition of the Chipping Forecast that while the pair were playing together at the Austrian Alpine Open last week, Na revealed he will be likely back on the PGA Tour next January. 

"I think come January he has category through career money or 300 plus cuts made on the [PGA] Tour," said Pepperell. 

Pepperell, who has always been a harsh critic of LIV Golf, added that his recent experience alongside Na was completely different to the last time they played together at the 2015 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits. 

"He was quite a different person I would say back then to the one he is now," said Pepperell. 

"I found him to be actually a very good company in Austria I have to say whereas at Whistling Straits maybe less so. But yeah, he can still play really good golf. I mean he's a wonderful player. 

"He's had a great career so [it] should be no surprise and a brilliant putter. 

"But no, he's very very frank and open about his views on LIV and how he sees it potentially, well ultimately struggling as this year progresses. 

"But I thought I found him to be very reasonable, particularly smart and also very conciliatory towards the PGA Tour actually which I think was maybe most refreshing. 

"I think he recognises the position that he finds himself in [with] the PGA Tour accepts the punishments coming his way and he has a plan and he seems pretty open and okay with it all. So I enjoyed his company."

Explaining why he believed Na used to be challenging to play alongside, Pepperell added: "When I played with him, if anybody was stood remotely behind him, in his eyeline behind him and moved as much as itching an arm or even blinking, he would have picked you up on it and told you off. 

"I found him to be quite a challenge to play with back then, if I'm being honest. 

"Obviously in the intervening period, all this extra money and I think he's got three kids, I think he told me, which would have invariably changed him of course. 

"He struck me as a very different person and a much more enjoyable person to play golf with frankly."

Na isn't the only LIV Golf player that will return to the PGA Tour next year. 

Hudson Swafford will be permitted to play again from 1 January 2027. 

Dustin Johnson's former teammate, Pat Perez, will also be able to play on the senior circuit from next year.

Perez found himself in a strange situation as although he got relegated from LIV Golf in 2024, he continued to work for the rival league as an on-course commentator. 

The PGA Tour still treat broadcasting LIV as promoting an "unauthorized circuit" and stated that his one-year ban began from the last tournament he worked at.