How many LIV Golf stars the PGA Tour were initially looking at inviting to the Players Championship

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It is hard to imagine that any golf fans went into 2025 with the idea of LIV Golf stars being at the Players Championship on their bingo cards.

Of course, heading into 2025, there was reason for optimism that the PGA Tour and the PIF would move closer to reaching a deal following Donald Trump‘s win in the Presidential election. Whatever you think of Trump’s politics, it cannot be denied that he would love nothing more than to be remembered as the man who reunited golf.

And with the PGA Tour and LIV Golf‘s owners meeting Trump at the White House last month, it was difficult not to feel that a deal could be imminent.

In fact, there were reports that LIV Golf stars could feature at the Players Championship – which would certainly be a huge statement given the significance of the event at TPC Sawgrass to the PGA Tour.

The PGA Tour’s initial plans for LIV Golf stars to feature at the Players Championship

However, those hopes appear to have been dashed, and it was reported that talks did not go as well as had been hoped. But it seems that the PGA Tour were indeed weighing up including a handful of LIV players in the field in Florida.

Speaking on the Inside Golf Podcast, journalist Bob Harig hinted at how close the plan came to fruition.

“I don’t know how far it got. I don’t know if it ever got taken to the PIF. It was an idea discussed on the tour side, and down to the level of they would invite four players based on having won majors or some other criteria, and add them to the field. They would not have taken away any spots from PGA Tour members. This week’s field is 144, they would’ve made it 148. And my guess is you would have had [Brooks] Koepka, [Jon] Rahm, Cam Smith and Bryson [DeChambeau]. What about [Tyrrell] Hatton? Well, he hasn’t won a major,” he said.

“But I don’t think that it ever got beyond the stage of they were kicked around and willing to do that, but it was six months ago. I don’t think they formally took it to the PIF. If they did, and the PIF still scheduled an event this week, that’s not a great sign if they did. But I don’t know for sure that they did.

“But I know that we were all surprised when we saw their schedule. And we’re like, ‘wait a minute’, they played up against Phoenix and against Torrey Pines, Tiger’s event.”

How LIV Golf players have fared at the Players Championship over the years

TPC Sawgrass has actually been quite a happy hunting ground for those who went to LIV. Since 2007, there have been five winners of the Players Championship who now ply their trade on LIV Golf.

Meanwhile, the runners-up in 2021, 2022 and 2023 were Lee Westwood, Anirban Lahiri and Tyrrell Hatton – who also all find themselves on LIV.

Perhaps you could understand why the PGA Tour may not have gone too far down the line when it comes to turning the idea into a reality.

Ultimately, it would not have been the best look for the tour had Bryson DeChambeau gone on and won. And the PIF would have felt like they were in an incredibly strong position when it came to turning an agreement in principle into a complete deal.

But it appears that it will be a while longer before the big names on the two tours are facing off outside of the majors once again.