Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, citing the Middle East conflict, has confirmed that funding for LIV Golf would stop after this year. That has left the league’s top stars scrambling to find a way out. Reportedly, the PGA Tour is also sketching a blueprint of how to accommodate them, some of whom are averse to paying fines and serving suspensions. But Gary Player reveals his fellow Hall of Famer, Tom Watson, has stern advice for them: forget about past privileges; go grind and earn a spot.
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“Tom Watson had a point at Augusta this year. He says if they want to come back, they have made all this money. They can’t just walk back onto the Tour now. It’s not fair to the players that are playing now, and they should go to one of the minor Tours and have to pre-qualify to get on the Tour,” Gary Player said at the Vanity Index Podcast, while speaking about the current state of professional golf.
The exodus of top stars from the PGA Tour threw men’s professional golf into deep uncertainty. Last month, Tom Watson said if he were the PGA Tour commissioner, he would’ve made ex-LIV golfers tee off at the Korn Ferry Tour. Watson argued the way Brooks Koepka was allowed back wasn’t fair to pros who remained loyal and snubbed offers from LIV. He was right, as some players spoke against the Returning Member Program candidly.
While some, like Rory McIlroy, have been more open to accepting ex-LIV pros back (more on that later), others like Wyndham Clark openly admitted that it was frustrating to see Koepka being “able to get the cake and also eat it.” Hideki Matsuyama raised another potent question: “What happened to the rule that players who participated in LIV were not allowed to compete for a year?”
On the opposite side of the spectrum, McIlroy believed it was time to forgive LIV pros. The Ulsterman recently suggested that the terms of Koepka’s return were too harsh. Regardless of what he thinks, the PGA Tour’s next set of policies for LIV golfers is aimed at pacifying pros like Matsuyama and Clark, as one insider source hints.
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BOLINGBROOK, IL – AUGUST 10: Brooks Koepka watches other players on the green during the final round of LIV Golf Chicago on Sunday, August 10, 2025 at Bolingbrook Golf Club in Bolingbrook, IL Photo by Ben Hsu/Icon Sportswire GOLF: AUG 10 LIV Golf Chicago EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon224250810091
Recently, Golf Digest cited a PGA Tour source to report that terms will be harsh, and it will be more than just financial penalties. Jon Rahm and others might have to serve long suspensions.
Brian Rolapp, the CEO of the PGA Tour, also admitted that not just players, but even some officials are against any leniency. It somewhat aligns with Tom Watson’s statement, but where does Gary Player himself stand in this debate?
Well, the 90-year-old refused to take sides, saying, “Well, that’s [Watson’s comments] food for thought. I don’t know whether it’s right or wrong, I am not in a position to say.” However, his next comments revealed why he is doubtful that punishing pros is the best policy.
“If you win a tournament today, you’re not the world champion anymore. When Arnold (Palmer), Jack (Nicklaus), (Lee) Trevino, and (Tom) Watson, these guys with Sam Snead and Ben Hogan, when they won a tournament, they were the world champions because you didn’t have two Tours. Now you win a Tour, you’re half a champion. Here you have got two Tours separated from each other.”
Gary Player said he would love the two Tours to come together. Unfortunately, the negotiations have been stalled for months. PIF’s exit is likely to put both the PGA Tour and LIV Golf back to the drawing board.
Moreover, as the diverse opinions inside the PGA Tour suggest, regaining a balance won’t be easy, and some LIV golfers’ actions are not helping them earn any favors as well.
Bryson DeChambeau’s actions reveal why some want a harsher treatment of LIV pros
Despite the sinking ship of LIV Golf after PIF’s announcement, some pros are still being picky over the opportunities they receive. Bryson DeChambeau and his camp tried to find common ground with the PGA Tour executives. However, things didn’t pan out the way they expected.
The PGA Tour officials didn’t bend to their will, and that left DeChambeau frustrated. In a statement, DeChambeau told the media, “So, if I were to film a video during the week of one of their events with a content creator or somebody, a celebrity or whatnot, that would be in violation, and, from my knowledge, they didn’t let me do it when I was on there. I asked numerous times.”
He wanted to integrate more of his content creation portfolio into his PGA Tour pursuit. But the Tour’s executives denied him permission to do so. Considering that Grant Horvat & Co. also faced the same challenges, it’s understandable.
In fact, Horvat also declined an invitation from an official PGA Tour event because he couldn’t film it with his crew. Maybe their focus on content creation instead of professional golf events is what is putting Brian Rolapp & Co. off.
DeChambeau is also hoping for a $500 million contract extension from LIV; however, it’s unlikely in this scenario. He has clearly stated that he would play four majors and YouTube golf if the PGA Tour’s terms seem too harsh to him. It’s anyone’s guess how well that will go.
Such complex situations might all be off-putting for legends like Gary Player & Co. So it’s understandable if they are not in favor of such stars returning to the PGA Tour immediately.
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