“What Precedent Are You Setting?” PGA Tour Warned as It Reopens Doors to LIV Golfers
via: Imago
via: Imago
Seven-time PGA Tour winner Viktor Hovland has stayed with the PGA Tour throughout his career. But now, there are a few questions he wants answered.
As player movement increases and the PGA Tour adjusts its stance amid shifts involving LIV Golf, Viktor Hovland appears unconvinced by how the situation is being handled.
Hovland said Tuesday that he understands the decisions allowing Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed to return to the PGA Tour.
Speaking ahead of this week’s WM Phoenix Open, Hovland was asked about the Tour’s move to open a pathway back for players who had left.
Nedbank Golf Challenge 2025 Victor Hovland NOR on the 3rd fairway during the second round of the Nedbank Golf Challenge 2025 held at Gary Player Country Club in Sun City, South Africa. 05/12/2025. Picture Thos Caffrey / Golffile.ie All photo usage must carry mandatory copyright credit Golffile Thos Caffrey Copyright: xThosxCaffreyx *EDI*
Nedbank Golf Challenge 2025 Victor Hovland NOR on the 3rd fairway during the second round of the Nedbank Golf Challenge 2025 held at Gary Player Country Club in Sun City, South Africa. 05/12/2025. Picture Thos Caffrey / Golffile.ie All photo usage must carry mandatory copyright credit Golffile Thos Caffrey Copyright: xThosxCaffreyx *EDI*
“What precedent are you setting then to the future players now if I can go to a rival tour, get paid, and now seemingly come back again without the biggest consequences.”
Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed, who joined LIV Golf in 2022, were given separate routes back to the PGA Tour.
Koepka returned through the one-time Returning Member Program, which applied only to four players, including Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, and Cameron Smith.
Reed, meanwhile, is set to return after completing a one-year suspension that ends in mid-August. Koepka retained full status due to his 2023 PGA Championship win, while Reed will rejoin as a past champion.
Neither player is eligible for equity grants through 2030, and Koepka was also required to make a $5 million charitable contribution.
Hovland pointed out that Koepka, a five-time PGA Tour winner, and Reed, the 2018 Masters champion, raise the level of competition and improve tournament fields.
According to Hovland, having proven winners back on the Tour makes events stronger and creates better competition for everyone involved.
Viktor Hovland Keeps His Attention on His Own Game
Wanting to compete in the strongest fields, Viktor Hovland made it clear that he is not taking a position on the Tour’s decisions.
Hovland said, “I don't really have an opinion on that to be honest. That's something the TOUR has to figure out. I'm sure there is a lot of people not going to be super happy about that, but at the end of the day I just want to compete against the best players in the world.”
From there, Hovland shifted the focus back to himself, explaining where his attention lies right now.
“I'm in a place where I have to figure stuff out in my own game, and that's basically where I'm focusing on. I don't really want to focus on what the TOUR should be doing right now.”
What are your views on the PGA Tour’s decision to reopen pathways for LIV Golf players?
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Written by
Aditi Singh
Edited by
Oajaswini Prabhu