In summary

  • New PGA Tour eligibility rules confirmed for 2027 mean LIV stars like Cameron Smith may need to win a major or go through qualifying school to return.
  • LIV filed for bankruptcy this month, owing money to players including Smith ($4.8m) and Lucas Herbert ($1), while CEO Scott O'Neil pushes ahead with a slimmed-down LIV 2.0.
  • PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp said meritocracy underpins the new guidelines, though a return path for LIV players was not a priority for the Future Competition Committee.

Australian LIV stars including major winner Cameron Smith could need to go through qualifying-school, or win a major, to get back on the PGA Tour after a raft of new eligibility rules for its new two-tiered structure set to begin in 2028.

LIV filed for bankruptcy earlier this month with players owed millions of dollars including Smith ($4.8m) and Ripper GC teammate Lucas Herbert ($1) among the creditors listed in documents.

Despite owing as much as $500m to creditors, LIV CEO, Scott O’Neil is pushing on with plans to reinvent the league as a slimmed down version 2.0 next year with as few as 10 events and much smaller prize purses.

Before the bankruptcy was confirmed, but after the season-ending event was cancelled, Smith, who signed a nine-figure contract with LIV, conceded things were “up in the air” but indicated his preference was to stay on.

“I want it to work, really, to be honest,” he said.

Herbert, a two-time LIV winner in 2026, confirmed his management had reached out to the PGA Tour about a possible return as part of “due diligence” for his future.

“If LIV were to go away and you've got nowhere to play, I think ultimately you need somewhere to play as a professional golfer,” he said.

But neither Smith or Herbert, as well as Ripper GC teammates Marc Leishman and Elvis Smylie would be able to play on the PGA Tour under the new rules.

Instead, they would have to play elsewhere for a year, and only in authorised events, then either win their way back to the PGA Tour through a major victory or head to qualifying school to gain status for 2028.  

The full list of new eligibility rules covers both the Championship Series, which will be reserved for the tour’s top 90 players from 2028, and a Challenger Series that will run concurrently with significantly smaller purses but offering a chance for promotion to the elite level.   

PGA Tour CEO, Brian Rolapp, made it clear “meritocracy” was at the heart of the new guidelines, while also conceding a return path for LIV players was not a priority.

“There are really three things when it comes to anyone who wants to compete on the PGA Tour,” Rolapp began.

“One, the PGA Tour is built on meritocracy. Every player, whether they are a member or want to become one, must earn their place.

“Two, we are a membership organisation; we have rules, and those rules exist for lots of reasons, including fairness and competitive balance. Rules matter, and they must be enforced. Which brings me to [point] No.3, accountability and discipline.

“These are essential elements for any sports league and are certainly for the integrity of the PGA Tour and the sport. It’s what holds the tour together. Those are guiding principles for us.”

“I think the Future Competition Committee was really just focused on the competitive model that we’ve been discussing over the past few months.

“It was not really looked at specifically on any one particular… on LIV or any other consideration.”

The returning member program that enabled Brooks Koepka to get back on tour after quitting LIV, which was also offered to Smith, is no longer available.

Another former LIV player, Patrick Reed, is eligible to return to the tour after last competing in a LIV event in August 2025. He also leads the DP World Tour rankings and is almost certain to regain tour status as one of the 10 finishers. 

It remains unclear, however, whether LIV players would be welcomed on the DP World Tour as a playing alternative, although it's been reported the special dispensation currently given to allow players into events on both tours would be ending in 2027. 

The LIV lockout comes as Spanish star Jon Rahm, who was at the top of the list of LIV players owed money, said there was a legal process set to play out before his future could be confirmed.

Rahm is speculated to be a certainty to not be a part of LIV 2.0.  

“Well, there's a long legal process they have to go through before a lot of things fall into place. I really can't give you an answer right now,” he said at the BMW Championship at Wentworth.

“So, until this current season is done, I really won't be able to give you an answer.”