Cameron Smith acknowledged that returning to the PGA Tour is 100 per cent
an option if LIV Golf collapses, signaling a shift as Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund prepares to withdraw financial backing at the end of the season.
The landscape of professional golf faces an abrupt financial reckoning as LIV Golf confronts the impending withdrawal of its primary benefactor. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund confirmed earlier this year that it will not continue its financial support of the league beyond the current season. The decision leaves the breakaway circuit racing to secure alternative capital while staff, contractors, and players reckon with an uncertain future.
Cameron Smith Eyes a Potential PGA Tour Return
For Cameron Smith, the captain of Ripper GC who signed with the breakaway league in 2022 for a reported $140m, the shift in tone is unmistakable. Known previously as a staunch defender of the series, the Australian conceded that heading back to the PGA Tour remains a fallback plan if the circuit fails to endure.
I mean, if it was the only option, I think that’s where everyone would want to be for sure, 100 per cent,
Smith told reporters ahead of LIV Golf New York, adding that it would go back to old times.
That stance marks a notable departure from his earlier comments. As recently as January, Smith rejected overtures to follow former LIV star Brooks Koepka back to traditional circuits, insisting he remained fully committed to his team. Even now, Smith emphasizes that he wants the breakaway league to survive, pointing to the growth of the game in Australia—including the Adelaide event, which drew more than 115,000 spectators and set records for golf in Australia—as proof of the circuit’s value.
Stalled Funding Talks and Looming Termination Notices
Behind the scenes, the financial pressure is intensifying. Representatives for multiple players have already contacted the PGA Tour to explore potential reinstatement pathways, according to Golfdigest. Those discussions unfold against a backdrop of sweeping operational cutbacks. The outlet Flushing It reported that LIV Golf began issuing 30-day termination notices to a large number of staff and contractors, with employment expected to conclude in early September.
Financial obligations to players also remain a central point of contention. Reporting notes that players could collectively still be owed more than $250 million in unpaid contract money, with two-time major champion Jon Rahm reportedly still due a substantial portion of his deal.
Leadership Transitions and the Search for Independent Capital
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund announced in April that it will not continue its financial support of the league beyond this season.
While executive leadership insists the circuit retains strong commercial momentum, players acknowledge that they remain largely in the dark regarding the specifics of the transition.
Obstacles Awaiting Players on the Path Back
For competitors considering a departure, returning to the PGA Tour will not be straightforward. Following Brooks Koepka’s return, the PGA Tour introduced a performance-based Returning Member Program that briefly opened a restricted window for eligible major champions. However, that specific program is not expected to be renewed as circumstances have shifted.
Returning players will face varied hurdles depending on their prior status and whether they resigned their memberships or participated in antitrust litigation against the tour. Litigation participants, including Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson, Talor Gooch, and Ian Poulter, are expected to encounter heightened scrutiny due to lingering resentment among the tour’s established membership.
What Lies Ahead for the Tour Schedule
Uncertainty also surrounds the immediate tournament schedule. Multiple reports indicate that the upcoming Team Championship in Michigan is in serious doubt amid the league’s financial turbulence. Nevertheless, players have been instructed to prepare as though the event will proceed as scheduled while leadership meetings continue.
