Report: Young LIV Golf stars consider leaving early to fast-track PGA Tour return
Several LIV Golf players are reportedly using the league's short break to determine whether or not they want to continue playing on the breakaway tour, according to a report.
Several young LIV Golf stars who aren't under contract are weighing up whether to leave the breakaway tour now so they can begin serving their PGA Tour suspensions, according to a report.
The league faces a race against time to secure its future after their primary backer, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), announced it will stop funding the venture after the 2026 season.
During an interview with CNBC earlier in the week, LIV Golf chief executive Scott O'Neil appeared to indicate he hopes to raise the full $350m needed to continue in 2027 before the PIF officially turns off the spigot in August.
Whether O’Neil and LIV can pull off the great escape remains to be seen, but journalist Ryan Lavner claimed on the latest edition of Golf Channel's podcast he's heard from "multiple sources" there are several young LIV players looking to make an exit almost immediately.
It would allow the players, who harbour aspirations to play on the PGA Tour one day, to begin serving their suspensions now instead of waiting to find out if LIV 2.0 will be given the green light.
"I've heard from multiple sources now that there are other players, younger players, who aren't under contract, who have started to look at the landscape and trying to figure out [what to do] if this does come apart, like it seems like it’s going to," he said.
"And I'm not even discounting the idea that Scott O'Neil can pull something off because I do think he can, I do think there's opportunity there that maybe someone would buy into, but if you're a young player right now and your main purpose, main goal right now is to get back to the PGA Tour, then you're probably thinking to yourself, I want to start that clock sooner rather than later."
Brooks Koepka is the highest-profile player to make his way back to the PGA Tour following his surprise exit from LIV Golf, whilst still under contract, in December 2025.
Koepka, 36, took advantage of a hastily-arranged returning member programme that was also open to Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith.
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Others - such as the likes of Kevin Na, Hudson Swafford, Pat Perez and former Masters champion Patrick Reed - have been ordered to serve a period of suspension before they can be reinstated.
Lavner continued: "That’s what Patrick Reed was told. That’s what he’s operating under, playing the DP World Tour, looking to finish top 10. He’ll be able to play PGA Tour events this fall.
"If you’re a young player on LIV Golf, you’re probably thinking to yourself, why wouldn’t I do that now?
"Finish up the season on the DP World Tour, where they would be welcomed back, try to earn my card back that way, and then at least mid-summer or early summer next year, I would be able to start competing again on the PGA Tour.
“I think that’s going to be a huge problem for Scott O’Neil on top of all the other problems that he already has.”
Which young LIV Golf stars could improve the PGA Tour?
Other than Rahm, DeChambeau and Smith - LIV's roster does have plenty of young talent.
Rahm's teammate, Caleb Surratt, is one of the most talked-about American prospects, with the 23-year-old set to make his first U.S. Open appearance next week.
Masters champion Rory McIlroy has spoken of the potential of his compatriot Tom McKibbin, who gave up a PGA Tour to join LIV Golf in 2025.
Spanish duo David Puig and Josele Ballester will also believe they have good careers ahead of them.
Puig already has a DP World Tour win under his belt and is just outside the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking.
Ballester, a former U.S. Amateur champion, grabbed his first professional victory last November on the Asian Tour's International Series.
Ben Smith joined the GolfMagic team in September 2021, initially as a content executive.
These days, he assumes the position of content manager.
