Laurie Canter looks set to make a piece of golfing history later this month at the Players Championship, with the Englishman in line to become the first player to feature in a PGA Tour event having previously played on LIV Golf.
Laurie Canter was amongst the first group of players to jump to LIV Golf back in 2022. He was a reserve player the following year, before playing as a wildcard in the early stages of 2024 until Anthony Kim was signed.
Canter has since found his feet back on the DP World Tour, winning the European Open last year, as well as in Bahrain at the beginning of this season. And he has now found his way into the top 50 in the world – with a spot at the Players Championship available to him.
It would be a significant moment. But based on the last few weeks, Canter is highly unlikely to be the last name to follow that path. However, there may be a big change made when the time comes for the likes of Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm to play on the PGA Tour again.
Rules likely to change for LIV Golf’s biggest stars when they look to make their PGA Tour returns
Speaking on Dan on Golf about Canter having to serve a 12-month suspension from the PGA Tour, Dan Rapaport claimed that he cannot see a way in which some of LIV’s biggest stars have to do similar when a deal between the two tours gets done.
“Laurie Canter, this is interesting, so he lost in a playoff in South Africa on the DP World Tour, but he’s now clinched a spot in the Players Championship, because he’s now inside the top 50 in the world, and it makes him the first player to play a LIV event and come back and play a PGA Tour event – and it’s not just any event, he’s playing in the flagship event. It’s proof that it is possible,” he said.
“The rules here, he last played on LIV in February 2024. He’s suspended for one full year, I believe, is the rule after his last LIV event, so he’s going to come back. Laurie Canter has done his time.
“Let me tell you something, the bigger guys once this comes together, they’re not going to want to wait a year – and they’re not going to have to wait a year.”
Greater LIV Golf presence had briefly been expected at the Players Championship
Of course, there was a moment last month when it appeared that Canter was not going to be the only one with LIV experience teeing it up at TPC Sawgrass.
As a deal between the PGA Tour and the PIF seemingly got closer, there were reports that LIV stars could feature at the Players Championship – despite the breakaway league having an event that same week.
It seems that talks between the two sides have not gone as well as hoped. So any chances of the likes of DeChambeau and Rahm being in the field at the flagship PGA Tour event have been all but dashed.
Clearly, had that plan played out, all of those involved would avoid the suspension Canter has served. So it is little surprise that Rapaport believes that the goalposts will move to accommodate LIV’s biggest stars when the time comes.
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