As the 2025 season winds down, LIV Golf seems ready to make another move. After early blockbuster signings like Bryson DeChambeau and Phil Mickelson, the league has added few notable names since, Jon Rahm being the clear standout. But with contracts expiring and teams looking to reset, talk of fresh additions is picking up again. According to the latest report, representatives of two recent PGA Tour winners are now in active discussions to join LIV Golf, potentially setting up the league’s next round of high-profile defections. 

NUCLR took to X to share the update sourced from Golf Digest. As per the report, “Sources tell Golf Digest that representatives of two recent tour winners are in discussions with LIV. Other rank-and-file names are angling for one last career payday. None of them is a high-profile get—Jon Rahm remains the only major star to defect in four years—but they are recognizable enough to trigger another cycle of ‘What is the state of the game?’ handwringing.”

The timing couldn’t be more interesting when you look at what LIV Golf is dealing with. The league is still fighting for credibility on multiple fronts. Their second application for OWGR points went in on June 30, 2025, after being rejected back in October 2023, and for the first time since LIV started, no player sits in the top 20 of the world rankings. Bryson DeChambeau, their highest-ranked golfer, has dropped to 21st, and Jon Rahm, once world No. 2, now sits 73rd. 

That slide in rankings makes qualifying for majors harder and fuels questions about LIV’s competitive standing. Off the course, transparency issues around financial structure, the details of player contracts, and the rules governing the league itself. Former player Hudson Swafford, a three-time PGA Tour winner and early believer in LIV’s promise, said back in August, “Things I didn’t like, you know, the lack of transparency, the rule changing… You never knew where we stood week to week.” Yet, despite these hurdles, there are compelling reasons players still consider the switch.

Financially, LIV remains hard to ignore: top signees like Jon Rahm reportedly earned $39 million in a single season, far surpassing their PGA Tour earnings. The league also offers guaranteed contracts, large prize funds, and a schedule that can be attractive to players seeking more flexibility or work-life balance compared with the PGA Tour’s demanding calendar. 

For some, the prospect of being part of a new, globally ambitious league with sponsorship opportunities and the chance to stand out among a smaller pool of elite players is appealing, even amid risk.

The financial pressures LIV faces, cumulative UK losses over $1.1 billion, fines from the DP World Tour, and six recent player relegations, may sound alarming, but they also create openings for new talent. Relegations and roster turnover mean that fresh PGA Tour winners can step into meaningful roles quickly, gain visibility, and negotiate lucrative contracts. 

For European players in particular, managing DP World fines independently can be a trade-off worth taking if it comes with higher guaranteed earnings and global exposure. 

The financial pressure adds another layer to LIV’s recruitment strategy as they seek to fill six roster spots following the relegation of players, including former Open Champion Henrik Stenson. The post racked up over 120,000 views in hours, and sent the golf community into speculation overdrive about who those two players (for now) can be. 

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LIV Golf fans are divided on potential recruits

One fan immediately threw out high-profile names: “I would guess either Fleetwood or Rose (or both), maybe Rory? Wouldn’t put it past him after the Ryder Cup fiasco.”

Tommy Fleetwood won the 2025 FedExCup Championship, making him an unlikely candidate given his recent success. Justin Rose captured the 2025 FedEx St. Jude Championship at 44 years old. Both seem settled on the PGA Tour. Rory McIlroy has recently softened his stance against LIV, urging both sides to “get over it” in February 2025. Still, his three wins this season suggest he’s not going anywhere. The Ryder Cup reference likely refers to ongoing tensions within European golf, although McIlroy remains firmly committed to the PGA Tour.

Other fans pointed to less obvious targets. One speculated about recent lower-profile winners: “Aldrich Potgieter (2025 Rocket Classic Winner)” and “Garrick Higgo (2025 Corales Puntacana Championship).”

Aldrich Potgieter, a 20-year-old South African, won the 2025 Rocket Classic in a breakthrough performance. Garrick Higgo claimed the 2025 Corales Puntacana Championship after losing his PGA Tour card. Both fit the “recent winner” profile without being household names, making them logical targets for LIV’s recruitment strategy.

Another fan raised an interesting angle: “Wonder if Wesley Bryan is one after his PGA suspension for doing a YouTube game that LIV backed.”

Wesley Bryan, the 2017 RBC Heritage champion, received an indefinite suspension for appearing in “The Duels: Miami,” a LIV-affiliated YouTube event. That demonstrates the Tour’s continued hardline stance against any LIV involvement. Bryan’s suspension makes him a realistic candidate, as he has already crossed the line in the eyes of the PGA Tour.

However, skepticism ran equally strong. One fan demanded accountability: “‘Sources’ Really? Like who exactly. Or, if they insist on anonymity, what distinguishes them and their reports from those of any other LIV supporter who wants to trash the PGA Tour?”

The lack of concrete names has fueled doubts about the report’s credibility. Without named sources or specific players confirmed, many fans remain unconvinced that this represents genuine news rather than speculation. Anonymous sourcing in LIV recruitment stories has become a pattern, leading to increased skepticism.

Another fan took a broader view: “No one of significance went last year, and no one of significance is going this year. The brutal international travel schedule is a major factor, no OWGR points, and a one sided lack of transparency contracts by LIV Golf aka @PIF_en are awful. In addition, this year players like Bryson, Brooks and others are leaving LIV Golf.”

This fan accurately identifies LIV’s structural challenges. The league faces brutal international travel, with events spread across multiple continents. The absence of OWGR points remains unresolved, despite their application in June 2025. Contract transparency issues are real, as Swafford’s comments confirmed. However, the claim about Bryson and Brooks leaving is premature. DeChambeau confirmed that his contract expires at the end of 2026, with negotiations planned, while Koepka’s situation remains unclear, despite rumors.

One fan expressed doom-and-gloom sentiments: “Golf is going to implode soon, tiger retirement is eminent… liv BS… Saudi money…. Ball roll back ….Whole sport is about to be a shit show.”

These concerns reflect broader anxiety about the state of professional golf heading into 2026. Tiger Woods has reduced his competitive schedule significantly, though “eminent retirement” remains speculation. The golf ball rollback is a real phenomenon, with implementation scheduled for 2028 among professional golfers. Saudi money continues fueling LIV despite reported financial losses. The sentiment captures legitimate frustration about the sport’s uncertain direction.

The truth? We won’t know until the names are actually announced. Meanwhile, talks on PGA Tour-LIV reunification remain completely stalled. For now, golf fans are left playing the speculation game, with everyone asking the same question: who’s actually jumping ship?