The Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) has battled an image problem for years. The argument: Golf is elitist, it takes up far too much land that could provide either housing or food, it’s populated by white men—that line doesn’t hold water anymore—and it’s a rich man’s game.
But golf has problems, and they were exacerbated by the rise of the Saudi-funded league called LIV. Dozens of the best players left the PGA to play on the LIV Tour and were handsomely compensated. Cameron Smith is an Australian professional, once ranked as high as #2 in the world. He’s been nowhere near that high in the last several years. But he accepted a reported $100 million from the Saudis—far less than others, including Phil Michelson, who’s aged out of competitive golf. Smith needs to make a big decision in the next two weeks.
The PGA and LIV pretended they’re working on a deal to “come together” for years. Those efforts have yet to provide any substantive movement, since the LIV players like that money. They play fewer holes per tournament—hence the name LIV—meaning 54, as opposed to the PGA’s 72 holes. They also play fewer tournaments over the course of the year. Modern-day golf, much like professional tennis, has an overcrowded calendar which never has a true offseason. Throw money at athletes, someone will play.
The PGA has created Equity Grants, an incentive for players to own part shares in the PGA. This is important, because the PGA is now using Equity Grants as leverage against recalcitrant people. Like Brooks Koepka.
Under a tightly-controlled deal, Koepka will return to the PGA from LIV, when he plays at Torrey Pines at the end of January. The “Returning Member Program” has stiff penalties. But the PGA knows how to give a proper punishment to the LIV traitors. Koepka has agreed to forego the Equity Grants for five years, he forfeits FedEx Cup bonus money for this year, he’ll make a $5 million charitable donation to someone Koepka and the PGA agree upon. There are also restrictions on where and when Koepka can play.
The PGA has strict limits around the program. This isn’t the plan to get all the LIV bad boys back in the fold. In order to be eligible for the Returning Member program, you must’ve won a Major or the Players Championship since 2022, and have been off the Tour for at least two years. And, if you’re going to take the deal, you have to accept the terms of the deal by February 2nd.
Under those limitations, Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith are the only eligible golfers. Brian Rolapp is the CEO of PGA Tour Enterprises, and he’s said to have put the program, and its rules with a group also including Tiger Woods. It’s my feeling that, in an effort to show themselves as “tough and in complete control,” the PGA has backed themselves into a corner. Rolapp has insisted this isn’t a broad amnesty for LIV players, but a one-time deal. It’s hard to look at the enforced $5 million charitable donation as any kind of olive branch. Additionally, the rule about having won one of the Big 5 in the last three years is just silly. The short list of those champions includes Scottie Scheffler, Justin Thomas, Xander Schauffele and Rory McIlroy, one of LIVs loudest detractors. McIlroy’s stance has softened, but the point is those guys never needed to “come back.” They never left.
The Board of Directors of PGA Tour Enterprises, as of 2024, included players Adam Scott, Patrick Cantlay, Jordan Spieth, and business types like Home Depot founder and Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank. And Tiger Woods. The Board has significant name recognition. Now, all they have to do is fix things, for more than four guys.