Tensions between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf reached another flash point. One would think the PGA Tour is the clear winner. LIV Golf is facing significant losses and has not attracted as much fan following or viewership as it had hoped. But the Saudi-backed league has made some recent moves that seem to undermine the uneasy truce between the two organizations. LIV Golf will hold its Promotions event from January 8–11, 2026, at Black Diamond Ranch in Lecanto, Florida. It will offer two spots in the 2026 LIV Golf League.

Since the event is in the USA, there is a slight chance that some members of the PGA Tour or its affiliated organizations may attend or support the LIV Promotions event. To diminish these chances, the PGA Tour has announced strict action against those who join LIV even just for this one event. As updated by NUCLR GOLF in an X post, “The PGA Tour says that any player with PGA Tour, PGA Tour Champions or Korn Ferry status who plays in the LIV Golf Promotions event will not receive a media release and will be subject to disciplinary action and / or suspension because the event is taking place in North America.”

The problem with the LIV Promotions event is that it is in North America. Moreover, two golfers from the Promotions event can get a chance to earn a spot in LIV’s 2026 lineup. It is one of the moves the league is making to help its OWGR application get accepted. This makes it a little attractive for someone even slightly thinking about joining the Saudi-backed league.

The PGA Tour designates any tournament held in North America by a competing league (like LIV Golf) as “unauthorized.” No conflicting events or media releases will be approved for Tour members in such cases. Thus, the regulation has been there since its inception. However, the PGA Tour highlighted it again since there will be two spots to earn this time instead of one. And this is not the only one; LIV Golf is making many such moves to compete against the PGA Tour.

For instance, LIV has reapplied for OWGR ranking points. After reapplying, it has added two spots for the Asia Order of Merit top rankers instead of one. The aim is to make the lineup more inclusive. Recently, LIV also announced that it will move from the standard 54-hole format to the traditional 72-hole format. All these moves can strengthen its OWGR application.

Once it gets OWGR support, LIV could pose a significant threat to the PGA Tour, which is already facing declining viewership and fan engagement. This could possibly impact PGA-LIV Golf negotiations.

How the OWGR could affect PGA-LIV Golf negotiations

The acceptance of LIV Golf into the OWGR system would grant its players world ranking points. These points are crucial for qualifying for major championships and prestigious events. Currently, the lack of OWGR points has hindered LIV players from fully competing in events like the Ryder Cup and majors without relying on special invitations. Consider the example of the Ryder Cup. Golfers on the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour could get OWGR points from all events they played. However, LIV golfers only had to rely on major tournaments to seek Ryder Cup points that could get them a place in the team. This deficiency has been a major sticking point in negotiations as it affects the competitive legitimacy of LIV Golf players.

LIV Golf had offered a $1.5 billion deal to the PGA Tour, but the organization refused to take it. The offer included a provision that LIV Golf would continue to operate as a separate league and that PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan would become co-chairman of PGA Tour Enterprises. The PGA Tour found these terms unacceptable. Then, even POTUS Donald Trump acted as a solicitor to bring the two organizations on terms. However, the attempt failed. OWGR ranking points could help facilitate talks between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.