On January 12, 2026, the PGA Tour commenced the Returning Member Program.

This Program is inviting elite golfers who won majors or THE PLAYERS Championship from 2022 onward to rejoin the tour under a few conditions.

But will Cameron Smith, THE PLAYERS Championship winner in 2022, rejoin the PGA Tour?

During the LIV Golf captain’s press conference a day ago, Smith announced his allegiance and said, “I know I’m here to stay. I’m here to support LIV. I’m a captain of a great team and a great group of people. So, I’m happy where I am. I’m proud of where I am.”

As the captain of Ripper GC, Smith led the team for a dominant season in 2024. The team won the Team Championship in Dallas and proceeded to claim victory at Adelaide and Singapore.

They ended the season at #3. 2025, however, marked a fall to the #6 position, with only one win at Miami. 

Smith continued, “I think we’re doing many great things, particularly in Australia, and I can’t wait for this league to keep growing.”

Even if we consider the financial aspects, Smith’s stance at LIV Golf remains strong. With a net worth of around $95-$110 million, he has earned more than $47 million from LIV events.

That’s way more than his $26 million earnings from the PGA Tour. 

While Cameron Smith stuck with the Saudi-backed league, Brooks Koepka joined the PGA Tour under the elite program just five weeks after leaving LIV Golf. But what about Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau?

Major Winners at LIV Golf Announce Their Stance

Rahm won the 2023 Masters Tournament, and DeChambeau won the 2024 U.S. Open. These wins made them eligible to return to the PGA Tour. They have until 2 February 2026 to make their decision. 

But Rahm, during the conference for LIV Golf captains, stated, "As far as I'm concerned, I'm focused on LIV for this year and hoping my team can repeat as champs.”

And DeChambeau? He revealed that he’s “contracted through 2026,” showing his excitement for the season. 

Cameron Smith firmly rejected the PGA Tour return and anchors LIV Golf with confidence.

Rahm and DeChambeau echoed that stability, reinforcing LIV’s hold on recent major champions.

Written by

Krushna Pattnaik

Edited by

Oajaswini Prabhu