LIV Golf's Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau warned over PGA Tour return
Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau were among those handed PGA Tour bans after joining the LIV Golf setup, but the pair have been given hope of a return this year
Golf legend Lanny Wadkins has voiced his opinion that stars such as Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, and Jon Rahm should not be allowed an easy re-entry into the PGA Tour without facing consequences.
DeChambeau, who recently described a LIV Golf course as "diabolical", and Koepka, who acknowledged the elephant in the room, were among those suspended from the PGA Tour after their leap to LIV Golf. However, they were given a glimmer of hope for a comeback in June 2023 when the PGA Tour revealed a surprising tentative agreement with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia.
While it was anticipated that a part of this arrangement would permit LIV Golf participants to return to their previous tour, nearly two years have passed without the finalization of an official deal.
- Rory McIlroy makes major PGA Tour schedule decision after Grand Slam win
- LIV Golf humiliated as embarrassing new figures emerge
The future remains uncertain regarding the ratification of any agreement, but Wadkins insists that those who left should face some form of sanction before being welcomed back. Speaking on Golf Channel, Wadkins expressed, "I would like to see Jon Rahm and Koepka and DeChambeau play more often," adding, "That would be nice. But there's also got to be repercussions."
He elaborated, "I don't think you can just go to LIV, take $100m and walk back in and expect to have the same status you've always had on this tour. That's not fair to the guys who supported the tour and have been here the whole time."
Lenny Wadkins didn't mince his words: "Whether it's fines, suspensions," he spoke of possible solutions, "Whatever for it to work and I'll be damned if I can figure it out. Good luck to the guys trying."
Despite ongoing stalemates at the negotiation table, the PGA Tour has called upon President Donald Trump for assistance.
Trump's connections within both camps have positioned him as a potential peacemaker between the Tour and those invested in the Saudi fund. In recent weeks, efforts to mend fences have seen Trump convening sessions at the White House.
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, Tiger Woods, and past Masters victor Adam Scott are among those who have made appearances. Another key figure at these discussions is PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan, with whom Trump has built a rapport after several LIV events took place at his venues over the past three years.
DON'T MISS
Invited to facilitate dialogue, Trump expressed optimism about uniting the two rival golf entities. "Ultimately, hopefully the two tours are going to merge," he commented recently.
"That'll be good. I'm involved in that, too, but hopefully we're going to get the two tours to merge. You've got the PGA Tour, you've got the LIV tour. And I think having them merge would be a great thing."
