Laurie Canter’s journey over the past three years reads like a plot twist. And no one in professional golf saw it coming. Just a few weeks back, the Englishman openly acknowledged the possibility of becoming the first former LIV Golf player to secure dual membership on the PGA Tour. Days ago, those claims nearly seemed impossible to take a turn into reality. But here we are, that unlikely storyline is taking shape for real!

Post delivering a strong showdown in South Korea, Canter entered the DP World Tour’s season-ending play-offs with momentum on his side. It initially seemed like a long-shot bid. But it soon became a defining opportunity. He pulled off an impeccable performance to climb upwards in the Race to Dubai standings. And that placed him in a prime position for something far bigger than a good finish. A return to the PGA Tour. And this time with full playing rights.

A recent update from a golf enthusiast shared the final list with the top 10 DPWT players for the 2026 PGA Tour. And that list boasts the name of Laurie Canter as the second-ranked. Another update about the DP World Tour Season shared how Laurie Canter capped off his round with an impressive 5-under-par 67, which lifted him into a share of the early clubhouse lead at the DP World Tour season finale. The X post read, “Laurie Canter closes with a 5 under par 67, to take a share of the clubhouse lead at the DP World Tour season. It’s been an incredible season for the Englishman, and he is now guaranteed to be the first ex LIV player to earn PGA Tour membership 👏 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿”

For the Englishman, this moment is more than just a strong finish. And the journey has been anything but straightforward. Back in March, Canter made his Players Championship debut, receiving the traditional Tiffany cufflinks from PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan. Now, eight months later, the 36-year-old Englishman will now become the first ex-LIV golfer to officially earn a PGA Tour card.

He was once caught in the crossfire of golf’s modern-era power struggle. But as it appears, Brian Rolapp and Jay Monahan can’t play a deciding role in stopping Laurie Canter from playing on the PGA Tour. The PGA Tour has made its hostility toward LIV Golf unmistakably clear in recent months. In a strong warning issued to players, the Tour stated that any PGA Tour member and golfers who aren’t part of their league would face severe consequences if they participate in any LIV-related promotional event.

The message from the authorities was blunt. Play in a LIV showcase, and you risk immediate suspension. But the rules surrounding DP World Tour exemptions worked in Canter’s favor, and the PGA Tour can’t bend them just to keep him out. Thus, no matter how strong the PGA Tour’s dislike for LIV might be, they have no authority at the moment to prevent him from claiming the PGA Tour membership he rightfully earned through his performance.

Top Stories

Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren in Attendance as Charlie Woods Drives Team to Victory in Florida

Tiger Woods’ Girlfriend Wastes No Time in Sending Daughter Kai Trump a Strong Message After LPGA Disappointment

Phil Mickelson’s Cryptic Note Drops Minutes After Jay Monahan’s Numbers Spotlight the $8.7 Billion Discrepancy

LPGA Pro Issues Complaint After Slow-Play Chaos Follows Major Changes: ‘Ridiculous’

Rising PGA Tour Golfer Admits He Could Quit Golf Soon as Personal Issues Take Priority

Laurie Canter discusses form dip while looking to lock in 2026 PGA card

Canter, who became the first former LIV player to compete in PGA, had quite a run in the LIV. Between 2022 and 2024, the golfer played 20 LIV tournaments. Unfortunately, as the season progressed, the 36-year-old saw his campaign suffer some significant jitters. Since March, Canter has not been spotted in his usual elements, which has become quite a concern for the fans. Reflecting on his recent struggles, the Englishman had an exclusive interview with Sky Sports Golf. Detailing his struggles, Canter stated that the last six months, especially after the Genesis Championship, had been quite a toil. 

“We play such a frustrating game and I feel like at the beginning of the year I felt like I had a lot of momentum and had it on a piece of string and [since] then it has been hard work,” Canter said. He further described his situation to that of “paddling upstream for six to eight months.” Furthermore, the 36-year-old also pointed out that the fact that he fell behind on the PGA Tour card also hurt his progress significantly.

Now, that is quite understandable as Canter expressed his wish to qualify for the play-offs. Thankfully, despite just a couple of events to play with, Canter secured his PGA Tour card for 2026. And with things looking pretty rosy, fans will now wait to see how the Englishman fares next.