The real reason why LIV Golf star names will NOT return to PGA Tour before 2025
The true cost of breaking a LIV Golf contract has been revealed.
If a LIV Golf player was to ever break their three-year contract, it would mean a penalty worth "two, three or four times their signing bonus", according to Sports Illustrated's Alex Miceli.
As it stands, every PGA Tour member to have jumped ship to LIV Golf remains suspended on the American circuit until further notice.
It is understood PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan has no interest in ever opening the door for some of its former stars to return such as Cameron Smith, Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka.
Koepka, who joined LIV Golf from the PGA Tour last season, was recently said to be having "buyer's remorse" according to golf biographer Alan Shipnuck.
But Koepka, who signed for LIV Golf in a deal worth $100m, has denied such claims.
When you look into the figures behind breaking a LIV contract, you sort of begin to understand why Koepka won't be giving any consideration to a return to the PGA Tour before 2025.
If Koepka, for example, chose to leave LIV before his contract ends (and of course he was allowed back onto the PGA Tour), then the four-time major champion would potentially be looking at handing back $400m (x4 the value of his signing bonus).
"I knew everything I was getting into," Koepka told Miceli when pressed on the fineprint of his LIV agreement.
In his latest column for Sports Illustrated, Miceli writes:
Miceli also discusses in his report the amount of LIV Golf League tournaments that players are expected to compete in during the course of the 14-event season.
All player contracts vary, but a 10-14 rule is in place.
There is still something of a grey area on that front, explains Miceli:
Miceli adds:
LIV Golf players can of course compete in the four majors if they are eligible.
Koepka will be one of 18 LIV players competing in The Masters next week.
He will be looking to improve on some fairly sluggish early season form having finished outside the top 20 in his first two starts of the new LIV Golf League season.
Koepka did win on LIV Golf over in Saudi Arabia in 2022, but the rest of his season was a fairly lacklustre one.
Injury, it must be said, hasn't helped.
Related: LIV Golf player form guide, odds and ratings ahead of The Masters
Earlier this week, PGA Tour attorneys warned they will seek a 'default order' against LIV Golf's backer - the PIF - and its governor unless they respond to counterclaims.
In a court filing made public on 27 March, attorneys for the tour have argued that PIF and Yasir al-Rumayyan "have tried everything possible to duck service" in order to "stonewall discovery".
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