Golf insider gives fresh detail on what will happen to LIV stars if they rejoin PGA Tour
Paul McGinley has provided more insight on what the future holds for LIV Golf amid serious concerns for its long-term future.
LIV Golf has entered period of serious uncertainty, following reports claiming that Saudi Arabia could withdraw financial backing just five years after the initial plans were revealed.
Reports claim that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East could result in the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) withdrawing funds, with a 'seismic announcement' expected at the end of the current season.
Speaking at the event in Mexico City last week, LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil insisted that the current season wouldn't be disrupted, but admitted Saudi backing has not yet been extended beyond August.
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"The reality is that you’re funded through the season, and then you work like crazy as a business to create a business and a business plan to keep us going," he told TNT.
LIV Golf includes high profile names such as Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm, and the collapse of LIV would leave them out of the tour completely after leaving the PGA.
Insider reveals how DeChambeau can return to PGA
There has been significant speculation surrounding the possibility of a PGA return for those who left for LIV, and speaking to Sky Sports, McGinley has revealed it could be a very tricky process.
"Well it's not going to be easy, Nick, because over the last four years since LIV have been going, all of the spots that these players had, these 56 players had, on whether it be the DP World Tour or the PGA Tour, they've been filled," the Ryder Cup winner explained.
"And you can't just muscle your way back in again into what is going to be smaller fields than the bigger fields that they left.
"So it's not going to be an easy mole back in again, should they be allowed to do so," he added.
McGinley also explained that returning players would be subject to suspensions and fines before they could even think about returning to the PGA Tour.
"There's a lot of roadblocks in the way, there will be suspensions, there will be fining, all the kind of things that have been talked about for the last few years will have to remain in place in order to be equitable and fair to the guys who remained with the main tours over the last four years," he continued.
"So there's a lot of negotiation, let's call it that, to be done between the tours and the LIV players if LIV is going to fold in terms of what the future may be, but it's not going to be plain sailing for the LIV guys, I'm going to assure you of that."
Despite these concerns, PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp refused to rule out a return for DeChambeau and co on Wingo’s podcast.
“I’ve always said on this subject I’m interested in doing whatever makes the PGA Tour better. Fans want the best players playing together," he explained.
"I’ve always said that from day one when I took the job. Having said that, I don’t know what the circumstances are. Once there’s clarity we’ll cross that bridge, but we’re clearly not there yet."
Tom Jenkins