PGA Tour Says No Path for LIV Players to Return Now

By Staff Writer

August 30, 2026

2 min read

LoopGolf

Key takeaways

PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp said on August 25 that there is no active plan to revive a LIV Golf return pathway.
The one-time Returning Member Program closed on February 2, 2026, after Brooks Koepka used it to rejoin the PGA Tour.
Koepka's return cost him a $5 million donation plus an estimated $50 million to $85 million in forgone LIV equity.
The PGA Tour will replace the FedExCup Playoffs with a two-week match-play Championship Series starting in 2028.

PGA Tour Commissioner Brian Rolapp told reporters at East Lake on August 25 that the tour has no current plans to reopen a return pathway for LIV Golf players. Any player seeking to come back, he said, must first resolve contractual commitments and tail obligations left over from their LIV deals.

What happened to the Returning Member Program?

The Returning Member Program was a one-time route for players who had been away from the PGA Tour for more than two years and had won a major championship or the Players Championship between 2022 and 2025. It closed on February 2, 2026, more than six months before Rolapp's remarks. Brooks Koepka was the only player to use it, returning at the Farmers Insurance Open in January. Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Cameron Smith were also eligible but did not take the route.

What did Koepka give up to return?

Koepka's return came with a $5 million charitable donation, a 15-tournament minimum, and the loss of Signature Event sponsor invitations and FedExCup bonus earnings. He also cannot participate in the Player Equity Program until 2030. The PGA Tour separately estimated his forgone LIV equity at $50 million to $85 million.

Cost component	Amount
Charitable donation	$5 million
Forgone LIV equity (estimated)	$50M-$85 million
Total disclosed cost	$55M-$90 million

Rolapp's comment restates an old deadline rather than announcing a new ban.

What is LIV Golf's financial position?

LIV Golf has said Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund will fund the league only through the remainder of the current season. The league canceled its Michigan Team Championship and cut the purse for its Indianapolis finale to roughly half its usual figure. Yasir Al-Rumayyan has stepped down as LIV Golf's board chairman, and a new board is searching for outside investors ahead of a planned 10-event 2027 season built around player equity ownership.

What else is changing on the PGA Tour?

Rolapp also confirmed that the PGA Tour will retire the FedExCup Playoffs after this season, replacing them in 2028 with a two-week match-play Championship Series. The format change is separate from the questions facing former LIV Golf players about a path back to the tour.

Frequently asked questions

Can LIV Golf players return to the PGA Tour right now?

Not through a dedicated program. Commissioner Brian Rolapp said any returning player must first resolve contractual commitments and tail obligations from their LIV Golf deal.

When did the PGA Tour's Returning Member Program end?

It closed on February 2, 2026, after operating as a one-time window for major or Players Championship winners who had been away for more than two years.

Who used the Returning Member Program?

Only Brooks Koepka used it, returning at the Farmers Insurance Open in January 2026. Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Cameron Smith were eligible but chose not to.