PGA Tour Only Views Six LIV Players As 'Desirable' Targets For A Potential Return
Among the infinite number of questions surrounding the future of professional golf is whether golfers who left the PGA Tour for LIV Golf would, at some point, have a path back to the Tour. According to Webb Simpson, player director of the Tou'rs Policy Board, the answer to that question appears to be yes, but with an exception.
Back in June of last year when the Tour and Saudi PIF - which solely funds LIV Golf - announced a framework agreement, many assumed there would be some form of a coming together in the sport.
A merger has yet to happen, and both sides seem further apart than ever, but Simpson is of the opinion that some sort of deal between the Saudis and the Tour needs to happen for the betterment of the sport.
"And then, obviously, what you were thinking, what I’m thinking, what everyone’s thinking in the golf world is, how does LIV and PIF fit into all this? And I think I can say fairly that most of us, if not all of us, agree that we have got to solve that problem," Simpson told Golfweek. "And we’ve got to all agree that golf will be in a better place if we can all play together again under the same umbrella. I just don’t know what that looks like, at this point."
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Those assessments are more than fair from Simpson, and he's just like everyone else involved in saying that he doesn't know what playing "under the same umbrella" again looks like.
He did, however, share a fresh bit of information about LIV players potentially returning to play in PGA Tour events. According to him, there are only six LIV players who could potentially have some form of a direct path back onto the Tour.
"What we’re really talking about is probably six players (who will be desirable to the Tour). The rest will have to go to Q-school or if they want to do something on the DP World Tour," Simpson stated.
It's worth noting that not every player who left for LIV has voiced a desire to play in future PGA Tour events, but some, including Jon Rahm, have.
As for what six players the Tour has circled, it's harder to think up a possible list than you may imagine. Brooks Koepka, Cameron Smith, Dustin Johnson, and Rahm would almost certainly be among those group of six, but past that, things get a bit hairy.
At the end of the day, it sounds as if we're still a ways away from any sort of coming together in the world of golf, but it's refreshing to hear a player who is in on these important Tour meetings be transparent about certain discussions taking place.