The PGA Tour have seen in recent times just how much they miss some of the very biggest stars over on LIV Golf and they might now have a window of opportunity to bring the likes of Bryson DeChambeau and more back.
Ever since the split, the PGA Tour has lost a bit of star power and while the LIV Golf product still has plenty of work to be done on it to make it a more viable business, there can be little in the way of arguments that the likes of Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau aren’t missed on the PGA side.
Of course, those players were all paid huge sums even to make the move to LIV in the first place, with Rahm being paid over $300m alone to join.
Nevertheless, we are coming towards the end of the first cycle of big contracts from the LIV side now and according to their latest stance on renewals, the door might have just swung open for the PGA Tour to make their own move.
Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka could move back to the PGA Tour after LIV Golf decision
With certain LIV contracts up for renewal in the coming months and years, there’ll be plenty of interest from the PGA Tour side in how those negotiations pan out.
Crucially though, a report from Golfweek notes how LIV have decided already that they will not be handing out huge signing on fees like before.
Instead, the LIV players will simply be expected to agree to terms to remain on that tour and in turn, compete to win the prize money on offer like everyone else.
This could well open the door for the PGA to strike. Those huge signing on fees were a major part of the decision making process for many players.
Now, with no incentive other than playing less golf over the year, it would well see the likes of Koepka, DeChambeau and more look for a return to the PGA Tour.
With no big signing fees, the players will simply be playing for the bog standard prize money which is not too different to what the PGA players play for. For example, the upcoming Memorial Tournament sees the winner land $4m, the exact same amount that Marc Leishman won at LIV Miami.
The PGA Tour are biding their time with no deal imminent
We’ve already heard Brooks Koepka say LIV hasn’t progressed as he’d liked and with those sorts of thoughts in the air, together with no big signing on fees, the PGA Tour suddenly looks more attractive again.
Indeed, there are suggestions any deal will be on the PGA Tour’s terms anyway, and that is crucial, given them the time and leeway to simply bide their time.
If it gets to a point where a player like Brooks Koepka opts not to re-sign with LIV, then the only viable alternative for him is to try and get back onto the PGA Tour. Koepka, like DeChambeau, will see his current deal expire in 2026, while others are coming up this year.
That in itself is a story, with Koepka likely to need to re-earn his PGA Tour card and in turn, bring more eyeballs to their product.
Despite years of arguments and talks on a deal, right now, it feels like the PGA Tour are very much the ones holding the cards.
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