As the future of LIV Golf remains uncertain, golfers on the tour will certainly look for a way to get back on the PGA Tour. However, the 2023 Open champion Brian Harman believes that there should be consequences for those returning.

Things went downhill for LIV around the time of LIV Golf Mexico, when reports emerged that their executives were having an emergency meeting in Manhattan. Soon after, word spread that the PIF would withdraw its funding from the next season.

“Yeah, I think there should be something. I'm not smart enough to be able to tell you what that is. That's other people's jobs. I think there has to be something. I think that would help when I spoke to some of the bad blood and some of the resentment, although I haven't heard near as much of it in the last couple years as we did to start with the lawsuit. I think something to ease a little bit of that is probably necessary,” said Harman.

Commentator Brandel Chamblee also supports these penalties. Tequesta’s Lucas Glover also believes that returning pros “should abide the pathways back and pay the same penalties that the previous people have paid.”

“I would think that the fans want everyone to be playing together and, you know, time heals all wounds. There's still some sentiment out here, especially with all the lawsuit stuff, that stuff's going to be tough to get past. We play with all those guys in the majors, so, yeah, I think there should be a path back,” said Harman.

The existing framework agreement likely mandates penalties for returning golfers.

Brooks Koepka has already returned to the tour and has agreed to financial losses. Patrick Reed is also on his way back.

The Returning Members Program Involving Koepka

The five-time major champion Brooks Koepka was eligible for the Returning Members Program, created by the PGA Tour.

"I also understand there are financial penalties associated with this decision, and I accept those," Koepka said on social media.

Koepka forfeited five years of equity from the PGA Tour’s Player Equity Program. On top of that, Koepka agreed to pay $5 million as a charitable donation.

Reed, on the other hand, is facing a one-year suspension and is expected to join the PGA Tour from August 2026 as a non-member.

Read more at Club Golf!

Written by

Avishek Sarkar

Edited by

Pulkit Prabhav