Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau could well make a return to the PGA Tour as part of a peace deal with LIV Golf, but the pair could well face sanctions before their comeback
14:59 ET, 30 Apr 2025Updated 15:01 ET, 30 Apr 2025
Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau joined LIV Golf(Image: Getty Images for The Showdown)
Golf veteran Lanny Wadkins believes the likes of Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, and Jon Rahm should face punishments before being able to make a return to the PGA Tour.
DeChambeau, who recently labeled a LIV Golf course “diabolical”, and Koepka, who recently admitted the elephant in the room, were among those handed bans from the PGA Tour for opting to make the move to LIV Golf. They were given hope of a possible return, though in June 2023, after the PGA Tour announced a shock framework agreement with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia.
It was expected that, as part of a deal, that those who played on the LIV setup would be able to make a return to their former tour, but almost two years on, an official deal is yet to be signed off.
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It remains to be seen when or if an agreement will be passed by both sides, but if this is the case, Wadkins believes those who defected should not be given a free passage to return. “I would like to see Jon Rahm and Koepka and DeChambeau play more often,” Wadkins said on Golf Channel.
“That would be nice. But there’s also got to be repercussions.” He continued: “I don’t think you can just go to LIV, take $100m and walk back in and expect to have the same status you’ve always had on this tour. That’s not fair to the guys who supported the tour and have been here the whole time.”
“Whether it’s fines, suspensions,” Wadkins continued. “Whatever for it to work and I’ll be damned if I can figure it out. Good luck to the guys trying.” Amid the lack of progress around the negotiation table, the PGA Tour opted to seek the help of President Donald Trump.
Jon Rahm also joined LIV Golf(Image: Getty Images)
Trump has close ties to both sides, and it is hoped he can be a mediator between the Tour and those involved with the Saudi fund. In a bid to bring the two together, the President has hosted a series of meetings at the White House in recent weeks.
Appearances were made by PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, as well as Tiger Woods and former Masters champion Adam Scott. PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan was also present, someone Trump has got to know, having hosted a series of LIV events over the last three years.
Having been asked to aid proceedings, Trump is hopeful to see the two rival circuits come together. “Ultimately, hopefully the two tours are going to merge,” he said this month. “That’ll be good. I’m involved in that, too, but hopefully we’re going to get the two tours to merge. You’ve got the PGA Tour, you’ve got the LIV tour. And I think having them merge would be a great thing.”