Tom Lehman shared strong views on LIV Golf players’ possible PGA Tour return.
'Totally Against That': Tom Lehman Rejects Easy Path Back for LIV Golf Players
June 15 2026, Published 9:04 a.m. ET
Former World No. 1 golfer Tom Lehman strongly opposed an easy path back for LIV players who want to return to the PGA Tour.
"But to leave and then to come back and be able to just jump right in and play at any point, I don't care if you sit out a year, is wrong. Totally against that," Lehman stated during his appearance on the Beyond the Clubhouse podcast.
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Tom Lehman questioned the idea of an easy return for LIV Golf players.
Tom Lehman Believes Former LIV Golf Players Should Face a Tougher Return Process
Tom Lehman believed former LIV Golf stars should have earned their PGA Tour status again.
Lehman felt players who left the PGA Tour should not regain their status with a minor penalty.
"And if I was playing back then, playing right now, I would be really vocal about that. I think that's a terrible idea to let the guys who were not loyal to the PGA Tour leave and then walk back in with just a slap on the wrist and then let's go boys. I think that's wrong, you know?"
"Start over, earn your way back up," the 67-year-old added.
Tom Lehman Shares Strict PGA Tour Return Plan for LIV Golf Defectors
Tom Lehman said past success should not have guaranteed PGA Tour status after LIV move.
"You know, I would have a policy that says if you leave the PGA Tour for more than 12 months to play in a competing tour and then you want to come back, you can come back, but you don't come back with any kind of status whatsoever," Lehman said.
"You're at the bottom of the barrel, you know?" He believed a returning player's past success, world ranking, or major wins should not protect their status.
Tom Lehman called for LIV Golf players to rebuild their place after a PGA Tour comeback.
"When you come back, you go behind the tour school...and you start from the bottom of the barrel when it comes to eligibility and you work your way back up."
Lehman added that returning players would have limited ways to regain their place on the PGA Tour. He suggested they should rely on sponsor exemptions or earn spots through events. He also felt a season on the Korn Ferry Tour could be another path for them to rebuild their status.
Why LIV Golf Players Are Exploring a Return to the PGA Tour
Brooks Koepka returned to the PGA Tour after his stint with LIV Golf.
LIV Golf players' future has become a major topic due to questions over the league's long-term plans. Reports have claimed that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund could stop its support after the 2026 season. The league has spent large amounts on player contracts since its 2022 launch, but it has faced challenges with TV deals, sponsorships, and a stable revenue model.
Several LIV Golf players have explored possible routes back to the PGA Tour due to the uncertainty. Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed made their return through the PGA Tour's Returning Member Program. The programme gave LIV players a chance to regain status under specific conditions.