The Round Table: did the DP World Tour just kill LIV 2.0?
Each week, we ask our panel of writers, PGA members and golf industry experts to weigh in with their views on the hot topics of the day.
On Monday, the DP World Tour announced that any player signing with the re-constituted LIV Golf league would not be allowed to play in DP World Tour events in 2027, nor would they be eligible to represent Europe in the Ryder Cup. It’s expected that current LIV players such as Tyrrell Hatton will follow Jon Rahm, Sergio Garcia and others out the door to maintain their DP World Tour eligibility. Is the move by the DP World Tour likely to start a flood of players rejecting LIV for 2027?
Jim Deeks, Fairways Magazine (@jimdeeks): For the life of me, I can’t figure out why any professional golfer who still thinks he’s competitive would want to play for LIV Golf next season. From what I read, everything is up in the air, although I understand there is one sponsor who’s put up $300 million to keep the league going (contingent on a “critical mass of players sufficient to operate a bona fide professional golf league.” And the league itself says there will be 10 events next year, but again, surely that carries the same quality pre-requisite. But beyond that, who knows about 2028 and beyond? What we do know is you can’t get back to the PGA Tour without a one-year penalty, and you can’t play the DP World Tour if you’re still playing LIV. So, why on earth would you play on a Tour with no future? So, to answer the question, yes, I see just about everyone leaving LIV in the next few weeks, the final nail in the coffin.
Craig Loughry, Golf Ontario (@craigloughry): No. The DP World Tour’s stance raises the cost of leaving, especially for Europeans with Ryder Cup ambitions, but money still talks. For mid-tier and younger players, LIV 2.0’s reduced schedule could remain attractive if the guarantees are meaningful (and actually paid out). I think the policy slows defections versus stopping them. The biggest winners are likely the DP World Tour and PGA Tour, both have stronger leverage in keeping emerging talent in their pathway.
Michael Schurman, Master Professional / Hall of Fame Member, PGA of Canada: Players are being faced with many choices of where to play. Some of the LIV players are near the end of their careers and earned so much money from LIV, they will simply fade away. Others made similar amounts but are younger and they will look for a place to play if only to entertain themselves. Some tours demand a minimum number of events which in itself imposes restrictions on where a player can hang his hat. In the 1990s, I wrote that the PGA TOUR was in trouble. Fans attending tournaments were in decline, but the TOUR reported increases. Several sponsors were withdrawing due to high purse commitments. They were on a path to self-destruction and years later, they were saved by LIV when they were forced to increase purses or lose their players. If LIV had survived, the PGA TOUR would be in big trouble. The PGA TOUR has increased their media profile by increasing purses and sponsor obligations even though the professional golf tour business has not increased its marketing appeal. Sponsors are reaching the point of diminishing return. If that point is reached, the entire TOUR will implode.
TJ Rule, Golf Away Tours (@GolfAwayTJ): I think this is the final nail in the coffin, although it only needed a slight tap to finish the job. LIV is finally done and we can move on. Congrats to those that made their millions and can still make their way back to the PGA Tour (not sure Sergio and others on the downside of their careers are in that group). I do hope that the top players still hanging on for dear life finally make the sane decision to cut ties for good.
Hal Quinn, Freelance Writer, Vancouver: Only ones left are the fodder guys used to fill out the tee sheets — DeChambeau doesn’t count because no one cares what he does, except hissown self. They haven’t made Rahm money, but the rest whose names we’d recognize are comfortable enough that they can try to get on the DP Tour….if they want to. Euros are no longer a motivation for those guys.
Peter Mumford, Fairways Magazine: Does 10 events make it a Tour? It’s more like an appetizer for one of the real Tours. Now that tasting it comes with real negative ramifications, I don’t see a lot of players staying with LIV, other than the past-their-prime crowd who already got their money and don’t care.
The proposed new LIV is just 10 events with substantially reduced purses. Some of LIV’s biggest stars have already left or will do so shortly. Bryson DeChambeau has not signalled his intentions but looks to be staying. Other top players like Cam Smith and Joaquin Niemann are on the fence. That leaves LIV 2.0 with a whole host of aging stars such as Dustin Johnson, Ian Poulter, Bubba Watson and more. Is that enough to attract sponsors and fans and be a viable league?
Deeks: Well, even if those guys do stay (and again I say, WHY would you?) I can’t imagine more than family and friends would show up to watch. And if crowds are sparse, and there’s no television coverage (or maybe, at best, 3:00a.m. coverage on the Library Channel), what even remotely intelligent sponsor is going to spend a dollar in support?
Loughry: A league built around nostalgia is a tough sell. Fans, sponsors and broadcasters ultimately follow relevance, not resumes. Bryson, Niemann and a handful of current stars give LIV some credibility, but a roster dominated by aging names won’t drive long-term growth. With just 10 events, LIV’s challenge is creating must-watch moments in short spurts. Without enough elite players, and those players not in contention, it risks becoming an exhibition series rather than a true “rival league”.
Schurman: LIV missed the one-time alternative to standard professional golf tours. They should have built a far better team concept involving LPGA players and organized events in cities/countries that have little or no access to top level golf. Many players including those mentioned might as well go home and enter their Club Championship. The LIV players who have leverage with the PGA TOUR are fighting a battle they are hard pressed to win because they aren’t a force as individuals. They need to form a contingent with Rahm, DeChambeau, Smith and 3 or 4 others to negotiate with collective leverage. I always thought there was an opportunity to compete against the PGA TOUR, but LIV wanted to replace it, not build a better mousetrap.
Rule: Absolutely not. The billions spent by PIF didn’t attract enough sponsors to keep it afloat, so a league that is a shell of its former self has no chance. Time to move on and hopefully not speak of the league ever again.
Quinn: It didn’t attract fans or viewers when the big “stars” were teeing it up at various holes in shorts and listening to blaring music. Can a smaller audience — or interest — be even measured? The only recent rumour that makes sense is that the so-called “investor” is only ponying up a few million for tax reasons. “It’s a write off Jerry, a write off!”
Mumford: As noted above, it’s a “league” in name only – really just a blip on the calendar. By closing the door, the DP World Tour, and PGA Tour before them, have pretty much dictated that the best golfers need to be on one of those two tours, and that doesn’t leave much wiggle room for LIV 2.0 or anyone on their roster. Can’t imagine too many sponsors shelling out big bucks for that.
The Korn Ferry Tour just wrapped up its season and awarded PGA Tour cards to their Top 20 players. At the same time, the Fall Series is introducing us to several PGA Tour players that were under-the-radar during the regular season but are likely to join the Korn Ferry graduates next season. Who’s one such player that has caught your attention that you will be watching closely in 2027?
Deeks: I wish I could give you an intelligent answer, but I really don’t follow the KF Tour. However, I was intrigued that the winner of the last KF event of the season goes by the name of A. Hitt, which surely bodes well for the future, possibly in everything he does. I was sorry to see that none of our Canadians did better than 41st in the points standings, so it would appear that the next wave of Tour-quality Canadians is a bit of a ways off. Meanwhile, I will be watching to see if Blades Brown will succeed in his rookie year, if for no other reason than he’s the youngest Tour player ever, and he has a really cool name to rival his buddy, A. Hitt.
Loughry: One player on my radar is Michael Thorbjornsen (bomber). He combines power, some athleticism and confidence, and his ceiling seems exceptionally high. Consistency will determine how quickly he becomes a contender, but I’ve seen enough to know the talent is there. Among the young crew coming up, I think he’s capable of making the jump from promising prospect to established PGA Tour winner.
Schurman: The Korn Ferry Tour is made up of several groups; those on the way up, those on the way down and those destined to remain there. Those on the way down from the PGA TOUR should see this year as a one-time chance to return. Careers have highs and lows. Losing TOUR privileges can happen but if a player does so and can’t get back in one year, that ship has sailed. Those destined to stay there have a financial decision to make. Those on the way up with reason for optimism include Cole Hammer who has reasonable distance, but he can really putt.
Rule: Blades Brown is a kid that has been in the spotlight for a few years now as a can’t miss kid, and he’s still only 19! Having a chance to play a regular schedule on Tour next year will give him a chance to show us what all the hype is about. And how can you not cheer for the top money earner on the KFT, Sandy Scott. What a perfect name for a Scottish professional golfer.
Quinn: What’s in a name? Lots. What golfer can’t love a guy named ‘Blades’? Brown is 19 and has earned a Tour card. And how about Sandy Scott, who’s a Scot with a wife playing on the ladies Euro Tour? Then there’s Hunter Eichhorn, earning his card as a Korn rookie, who comes from a town of 500! Will keep an eye, sort of, on these guys.
Mumford: Blades Brown is the one to watch for me. We’ve been reading about him and seeing him for a couple of years now and at 19, he’s still a very young talent. He brings to mind Ty Tryon, another youngster who qualified for the PGA Tour in 2001 at the age of 17. Tryon quickly faded out and for years was the poster child for players trying to skip all the necessary experience. Sure, Tiger Woods did it, but that was Tiger. Brown has amassed lots of valuable experience on the KF Tour but still may stumble occasionally as he makes the jump to the big stage. But it will be a compelling story.
