Within just five weeks of bidding farewell to LIV Golf, Brooks Koepka came back to the PGA Tour under the Returning Member Program. While Tiger Woods and Scottie Scheffler were happy about the move, Wyndham Clark was frustrated. 

Talking to SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio, Clark said, “As a guy who had an opportunity to go to LIV, it’s kind of frustrating that he’s able to get the cake and also eat it.” 

“I don’t know, I’m very torn because at the end of the day, I want whatever’s best for the PGA Tour, and I think if guys come back, especially top players like Brooks, it’s only going to help the Tour, which is ultimately going to help me.” 

Back in 2024, Clark received an invitation from LIV Golf. The two parties even met for negotiations. In the end, the 2023 U.S. Open champion declined the offer. But had he gone to the Saudi-backed league, Clark would also be eligible to make a comeback. 

The reason lies in the Returning Member Program. According to this, golfers who have won major tournaments or THE PLAYERS Championship in or after 2022 are eligible to return to the PGA Tour under a few financial restrictions. 

The returning players would have to earn their way into the signature events and would be exempt from the FedEx Cup bonuses in 2026. Additionally, they’d be exempt from the PGA Tour equity for five years. 

Wyndham Clark continued, “If you would have told me that I could have gone for a year and a half, make a boatload of money and then be able to come back and play on the PGA Tour, I think almost everyone would have done that.”

So, why didn’t Clark join the ranks of LIV Golf? 

Why Wyndham Clark Refuse to Go to LIV Golf

About a year ago, Clark revealed that he wanted to see what the Saudi-backed league could bring to the table. However, his goals inclined more towards the PGA Tour instead of the lucrative deals. 

“I ultimately declined going to LIV because I felt like I still have a lot of things left in the tank on the PGA Tour, and I wanted to chase records, I wanted to chase world ranking,” Clark stated. 

“My dream is to try to be one of the top players in the world, if not the top player. I just grew up always imagining winning PGA Tour events. So ultimately, I chose my legacy over LIV, and that’s really what it came down to.”

Clark’s stance underscores a growing divide in modern golf, balancing legacy and loyalty against financial opportunity, as the PGA Tour adapts to player movement realities.

Written by

Krushna Pattnaik

Edited by

Oajaswini Prabhu