The saga between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf has dominated the professional game over the past two seasons, and things could well be set to get even more complicated
LIV Golf’s decision to expand its roster for the 2024 season is set to give the PGA Tour yet more to think about, even with a framework agreement with their Saudi rivals looming.
The PGA Tour and LIV have found themselves locked in a dispute following the breakaway league’s burst onto the scene back in June 2022. The American-based circuit initially took a zero-tolerance approach to their new-found rivals, banning any player who opted to make the Saudi switch.
This has seen the Tour suspend some of its biggest names, with the likes of Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka, all blacklisted by commissioner Jay Monahan.
The latest to be handed his PGA Tour marching orders was Masters champion Jon Rahm, who signed a reported £450 million deal to join the LIV setup last month. In its opening two seasons, the Saudi-backed league has operated with a 48-man roster competing across 12 teams.
The arrival of Rahm has however means a rewrite of the format is needed for 2024. Per Bunkered, LIV bosses are set to bring in a 13th team ran by Rahm, that will take the contracted playing roster to 52 players.
The report suggests that one of these spots will be taken by the man leading the Asian Tour’s International Series, whilst the other will be selected by the sponsor of each tournament. This will present players away from the usual LIV membership the chance to compete for eye-watering amounts of money, presenting a new problem for the PGA Tour.
So far, the American-based circuit’s dealings with LIV players have been pretty simple. Those who have opted to sign with the breakaway league have done so for at least one season, making the suspension process straightforward, with players banned across a prolonged period of time.
The introduction of LIV’s wildcard spots however, could well have Tour bosses debating their stance, with players handed a one-off chance to compete with the Saudi league. Per current PGA Tour ruling, playing members are able to apply for release to compete in conflicting events, if 45 days of notice is given.
Monahan and co faced a similar situation at last month’s LIV Promotions, as a number of PGA Tour members opted to enter the Q-School tournament in a bid to earn a spot on the breakaway circuit for 2024. At the time contrasting reports surrounding what fate would face those who opted to compete in the Middle East circulated, before the Tour confirmed to Mirror Sport ahead of last week’s Sony Open that no punishments were handed out.
The Tour referenced that due to the LIV event being one used for qualifying, the release of its players did not break its current protocol. Things however may well be different for one-off invites, with the places up for grabs part of an official LIV schedule event, rather than Q-School.
