The establishment of LIV Golf in 2021 was a bold move. Headed by Greg Norman and backed by the Saudi-based Public Investment Fund, the idea behind LIV was to globalize golf and compete with the PGA Tour.  Four years later, LIV Golf boasts some of the best talent in the world. How did they manage that? Through exorbitant sums of money offered up front for the players, but now, things might be changing. Slightly.

In a surprising move, LIV Golf has made a crucial decision ahead of contract renewals with its existing crop of players. It has been decided that players who renew their contracts will not receive huge sums of money at the beginning of the contract period anymore. This will be highly impactful for the existing players, as they had initially received huge lump sums to be a part of LIV Golf. Many of the players are also scheduled for possible renewals pretty soon.

Players like Dustin Johnson are up for renewal at the end of the year, while Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau are due next year. However, their newest big-name addition, Jon Rahm, is locked in for a few more years at least. This could force the players to rethink their standing and consider opting out of renewals. However, LIV will want to tie the players before the end date of their existing contracts approaches. This news could also mean that LIV is confident of finalizing a deal with the PGA Tour ahead of the scheduled contract renewals.

The deal’s current status is a big question mark. Very recently, the PGA Tour rejected a deal that would have brought in $1.5 billion as investment from the Public Investment Fund. The proposal had two caveats. LIV Golf, in some capacity, would continue to exist in the golfing ecosystem, and PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan would be co-chair of PGA Tour Enterprises, the governing body behind the PGA Tour. The PGA Tour did not feel like the caveats were worthy of the investment.

“The PGA Tour replied to the PIF’s demands on Monday, with neither deemed acceptable. Those with detailed knowledge of the situation stress reunification of golf is the PGA Tour’s core aim, a matter that is hardly assisted by LIV continuing in its present form. There would also be understandable unease within the PGA Tour should Rumayyan, whose organization has bankrolled LIV, be afforded such a prominent position as the breakaway tour continues on its own path.” The report from the tour stated as such.

The news has left a trail of responses on social media, with most fans averse to showing sympathy to the plight of golfers on the LIV Golf Circuit. There are also growing calls that these players will likely join the PGA Tour again when the most attractive feature of LIV, i.e., the money, is tough to procure.

Fans mock Bryson DeChambeau and co

Fans were very nonchalant regarding the updated approach by LIV Golf towards player contracts. They had expected some sort of fall-off, considering the exorbitant sums of money that were offered initially for players to participate in the circuit. Jon Rahm reportedly signed a 4-year, $300 million contract to take part in LIV from 2024 onwards, while the likes of Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka are on $125 million and $130 million contracts, respectively. “Nobody is shocked by this.”  One fan stated, while another replied, “LOL, life comes at you fast.”

This puts golfers like Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka in a predicament. The money is one of the reasons that made them stay. The new rule puts that in jeopardy. If they decide to opt out of signing a contract, the LIV Golfers are also short of options if they decide to not renew the contract. The PGA Tour is the only choice in front of them, but it is likely to come with a hefty fine and 1-year suspension. “Back to the PGA they go,” one fan stated.

Some fans are also busy crafting creative punishments for the players if they are forced to exit LIV Golf and join the PGA Tour. They don’t want the players to join the PGA Tour without facing repercussions for splitting the golf world when they initially left. One fan had a brilliant idea. “They should have to caddie for a PGA pro for a full season before being allowed to rejoin,” the fan stated on X.

Dustin Johnson joined LIV Golf in 2022 and took part in the first event on the circuit, the LIV Golf Invitational Series in the UK. He had subsequently resigned from the PGA Tour. When he had signed, the two-time major winner was one of the most successful golfers on the PGA Tour, winning 24 PGA Tour events. But since signing for LIV, Johnson’s performance has fallen off, especially when he competes against the PGA Tour players at the majors. Johnson had failed to make the cut at 4 of the last six majors, with his best finish being a T31 at the Open Championship last year. This lack of form is one reason why one fan professed that, “It would not surprise me in the least if DJ just retired.”

What do you think of the decision made by the LIV Golf heads? Do you think this will be the push some players need to find their way back to the PGA Tour?