The ongoing tension between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour shows no signs of ending anytime soon. The potential merger between the two has yet to reach any conclusion, and the golf world remains divided on whether any LIV defectors will attempt to return to the PGA Tour. If there is a leading contender in this debate, it’s Brooks Koepka.

Despite Koepka’s sharp remark about the rumors, “Everybody seems to know more than I do,” several factors seem to support the speculation. What are these rumors? First, Koepka’s contract with LIV Golf will expire in 2026. Second, he is the only player in the league who doesn’t wear his team’s branded gear. Undoubtedly, the narrative has gained traction, especially since Fred Couples claimed that Koepka is eager to join the Tour, noting that he talks to Koepka “all the time.”

But hey, Brooks Koepka is one of the most popular names in LIV Golf, and these rumors do not sit well with many, especially the new LIV Golf CEO, Scott O’Neil. And the reminder of where star golfers like Koepka belong has come with a threat. Currently active in Singapore, Scott O’Neil stated that although Koepka’s contract will indeed end by the 2026 season, he still has “a couple more years left.” Does this mean Koepka will stay with LIV? Only time will tell.

However, maintaining that same confidence, O’Neil stated that other players have renewed their contracts, just as LIV expects them to. Scott O’Neil also mentioned that LIV is actively searching for new players to “make sure they have the best players in the world.” Is that a direct threat to the Tour? Likely.

Just last month, O’Neil stirred controversy when he claimed that the world’s best players were with LIV. Many interpreted this as a jab at the PGA Tour, sparking considerable fanfare and comparisons. Fans also noted the number of LIV golfers in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), with only four LIV players making it into the top 100. However, one thing is certain: LIV boasts a talented roster of players. So, why is this topic so controversial? Let’s take a brief look at it.

The LIV Golf defectors and the dilemma of their return

Back in 2024, Wyndham Clark sat down to discuss this issue and categorized golfers into two groups based on “pedigree.” He believes that big players deserve the freedom to play wherever they want. However, he struggles with the less popular names because they have made their own decisions. In simpler terms, he stated, “it depends on who it is.” So, why is the Tour so confused about this? It has less to do with money and more to do with loyalty—or the lack of loyalty among the defectors. That’s why it’s not easy to welcome everyone back.

Many LIV players already had uncertain status on the Tour, and that status has now expired. Players like Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, and Sergio Garcia gave up their memberships to join the Saudi-backed league. The real issue lies with other star players. They not only left the Tour for LIV but also filed an antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour in 2022. This group includes Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson, Ian Poulter, and Talor Gooch, among others. The players left behind certainly didn’t expect this from them. So hard feelings remain, as evident in Justin Thomas’ comment back in February 2024. He said that he isn’t against their return, but if they do come back, it shouldn’t be easy.

“I would say that there’s a handful of players on LIV who would make the Tour a better place, but I definitely don’t agree that they should be able to come back that easily.” Interestingly, this comment came just a week after Rory McIlroy, a fellow Tour player, stated, “It’s hard to punish people.” Fast forward a year, and we are still dealing with rumors amid the stalled merger talks. With leading options like Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, and Bryson DeChambeau on the table, this talk will likely not end anytime soon. What do you think will happen? Will it be peaceful—if it happens at all?