The PGA Tour's CEO said the tour is not considering another returning member program for former LIV Golf players, reinforcing the likelihood that stars Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm won't be eligible to return to full-time PGA Tour membership status before 2028.
Brian Rolapp, speaking for the first time since LIV Golf officially entered into bankruptcy proceedings in federal court, told reporters on Tuesday, Sept. 15, the PGA Tour is not offering the path Brooks Koepka used to come back from LIV Golf before the 2026 season. Rolapp emphasized meritocracy, membership rules, accountability and discipline as "guiding principles for us," as the PGA Tour transitions to a new competition model after next season.
In short: There will be no shortcuts
this time and even the best LIV golfers will be subject to a PGA Tour suspension.
"In terms of where we are today, we are not currently contemplating a returning-member program like the one you saw in January. Everyone at the PGA Tour, myself included, has been focused on what is best for the organization," Rolapp said in his opening remarks as part of a news conference announcing the PGA Tour's Board of Directors had approved its new competition model starting in 2028.
Rolapp's comments occurred as LIV Golf members continue to be questioned about their future while participating in DP World Tour events.
Rahm once again declined to offer many details about his plans during an appearance on Sept. 15 ahead of the BMW Championship in England, noting there's "a long legal process they have to go through before a lot of things fall into place." But the Spaniard did acknowledge he has not been involved in discussions related to LIV 2.0, as opposed to DeChambeau who Rahm described as "quite involved."
"If there's anything I've learned, say, the last five, six years is I don't know if I'm meant to be involved in the politics of this game," Rahm told reporters. "I don't think I'm suited for that line of work. Luckily, I'm good at hitting a golf ball and I think that's what I should be sticking to."
What PGA Tour statement means for LIV Golf stars
Rolapp's stance on the potential return of LIV Golf members has not changed since a Feb. 2, 2025 deadline in conjunction with the Returning Member Program implemented as part of Koepka's reintegration to the PGA Tour.
It means the route 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed took this season, which included a one-year suspension from entering PGA Tour events, offers the most likely blueprint for stars such as Rahm or DeChambeau. Reed became eligible to return as a non-member last month and played his way toward stronger PGA Tour status in 2027 through his strong play on the DP World Tour this year.
Based on Rolapp's comments, Rahm and DeChambeau have a viable path to seek reinstatement with the PGA Tour if they're no longer under contract with LIV Golf. But 2028 is the earliest they (or any LIV Golf member from this past season) can be back as full-time members of the PGA Tour.
Though the PGA Tour hasn't stated anything specifically related to former members who defected to LIV Golf and never won a PGA Tour event before leaving, the PGA Tour confirmed some of its longstanding pathways to be eligible to play in PGA Tour events on Tuesday. Rolapp also indicated he expects there to be a path for the top finishers on the DP World Tour to play their way onto the PGA Tour in its new competition model.
LIV Golf members could also eventually take advantage of the PGA Tour's planned “last chance” series featuring a minimum of four events in the fall with three cards available for the PGA Tour Championship Series the following year.
Golfers who finish within the top 20 of the final Korn Ferry Tour standings, as well as the top-five finishers at Q School, will also receive a spot on the new PGA Tour Challenger Series for the next season. There will be additional open qualifying planned ahead of certain Challenger events.
How Brooks Koepka went back to PGA Tour from LIV Golf
Koepka announced in December 2025 he had agreed with LIV Golf officials to forgo the final year of his contract and applied for reinstatement to the PGA Tour. Koepka was permitted to play in PGA Tour events throughout this season because of the Returning Member Program, a temporary program introduced last July for golfers "who have been away from the (PGA) Tour for at least two years and have won The Players Championship, Masters Tournament, PGA Championship, U.S. Open or The Open Championship during the 2022-2025 seasons."
The Returning Member Program was created in response to Koepka applying for reinstatement to the PGA Tour, as well as PGA Tour research that showed fans wanted to see the best golfers competing together more often. It would have also allowed DeChambeau, Rahm and Cameron Smith to return to the PGA Tour had they applied for reinstatement and accepted the terms of the program before Feb. 2.
Koepka also did not receive any payment from the FedEx Cup bonus program for the 2026 season and he's ineligible to earn equity from the player equity program through 2030. Koepka could miss out on approximately $50 million to $85 million in potential equity earnings, according to the PGA Tour, depending on his competitive performance and the Tour's growth.
Koepka also agreed to make a $5 million charitable contribution to an agreed-upon organization. He had to qualify for signature events this past season and was ineligible for sponsor exemptions into those fields. Koepka had a disappointing season, failing to make the FedEx Cup playoffs with just one top-10 finish.
Now, however, the biggest remaining LIV Golf stars will likely face the same suspension and reinstatement process as everyone else if they choose to return to the PGA Tour.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: PGA Tour says no to shortcut for LIV Golf stars like Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau to return
