PGA Tour says Returning Member Program not slated for revival, leaving LIV golfers without a path back

PGA Tour commissioner Brian Rolapp told reporters at East Lake Golf Club that the organization has no immediate intention to bring back the Returning Member Program, which had previously allowed former LIV Golf players who won a major or the Players Championship to rejoin the Tour. The program, which required a two-year absence from the PGA Tour, was used by Brooks Koepka earlier this year, but the Tour has not indicated it will be reopened for other eligible players such as Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith.

Rolapp said the decision will be guided by three principles: the Tour’s merit-based structure, its status as a membership organization with enforceable rules, and the importance of consistent rule enforcement. > "Rules matter. Again, I've been very public that I want to do what's best for the PGA Tour, and that's still my guiding principle," he said.

The commissioner noted that any discussion about LIV players returning cannot begin until those players are free of existing contractual obligations. He added that no final decision has been made regarding the future of the Returning Member Program.

The comments came as LIV Golf concluded its season in Indianapolis and its CEO, Scott O'Neil, indicated that the league is negotiating a potential investment to continue operations, though details remain unsettled.

During the same news conference, Rolapp addressed a controversy involving a promotional video released by Good Good Golf, a sponsor of an upcoming PGA Tour event. He said the ad, which depicted a man shoving a woman, was not aligned with PGA Tour values and that the company's initial response was disappointing. Good Good Golf and Callaway Golf later issued apologies for the content.

Rolapp also discussed the Tour's upcoming competitive model for 2028, which will feature a Championship Series and a Challenger Series running concurrently. Seven of the fifteen Championship Series events have been announced, with additional tournaments to be added later in the year.