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During this uncertain time, the PGA Tour’s pathways and returning member programs give LIV golfers hope. While players like Brooks Koepka have already left for the PGA Tour, Jon Rahm and other high-profile members are yet to decide. Rory McIlroy is not happy about it and expressed his concern, asking what “value” such players would bring if they return. LIV star Lee Westwood has a reply ready for the World No. 2.
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“I heard Rory’s comments yesterday,” Westwood told TNT Sports. “… Rory’s answer was just typical of Rory. It wasn’t well thought out. There’s a lot of players on this tour [who] bring value to tournaments, and the Alfred Dunhill is a point in question where Johan Rupert’s got something like 26 or 27 invites, and he’s given them to 25 people off LIV [who] have got invites. So, that just shows you that live players do bring value to tournaments.”
Westwood, LIV’s Majesticks co-captain, is competing in Indianapolis. He also received a sponsor’s exemption to play in the upcoming Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, marking his return to a regular DP World Tour event for the first time since January 2023. The tournament will take place from October 1 to 4.
Ahead of the BMW Championship, McIlroy had questioned: “I’d argue, have they brought value to LIV?” He also warned that defectors face a tough and expensive road back if they want to return. If players do return, they will have to pay fines and remain suspended before becoming eligible to compete.
Brooks Koepka returned to the PGA Tour in January 2026, securing reinstatement through a newly created, one-time Returning Member Program after submitting a request to tour leadership and accepting significant financial penalties. Eligibility for it required winning a major or The Players Championship from 2022 to 2025 and being away from the Tour for at least two years.
Unlike McIlroy, Scheffler welcomed the idea of having LIV players back on the tour, but not without penalties. Regardless, LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil has assured that the tour has found its lead investors after months of scrambling to secure one.
Although LIV canceled its season-ending Team Championship, making Indianapolis the individual and team championship finale, O’Neil claimed both parties had signed an agreement and that the board had approved it, though they have not yet disclosed the identity of the lead benefactor.
For the first time in major sports, players will own most of the league. A dozen minority investors are interested, and the terms will be finalized by September 2026.
Beyond player departures, LIV faces contractor lawsuits over unpaid invoices. Shortly afterward, Fresh Tape Media and Mobii Systems Group Limited filed lawsuits against the league.
Interestingly, the Financial Times recently reported that Sergio Garcia’s outburst during the Masters earlier this year contributed to PIF’s decision to withdraw its funding. Still, that doesn’t change the value LIV players bring to the table.
