LIV Golf Shuts Down, PGA Tour Winners Revealed

LIV Golf is done.

Its primary financial backer, the Saudi Public Investment Fund, ended its support in April after spending more than $5 billion launching the league.

A final attempt to save the league through a restructuring agreement with BC Partners failed on Wednesday.

BC Partners dropped its $300 million bid to fund LIV's 2027 season due to a lack of player commitment and financial demands from agents that could not be met.

LIV Golf confirmed Thursday it will wind down operations and liquidate its assets.

The move ends a five-year saga that divided the sport and forced the PGA Tour to change how it does business.

Rory McIlroy, one of LIV's most outspoken critics, took one last jab before the league called it quits.

"They turned professional golf into an arms race," McIlroy declared earlier this week.

McIlroy also said last month that he would support allowing former LIV golfers to return to the PGA Tour.

"Yes, I would," McIlroy said at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in India on Oct. 13.

"I think a rising tide lifts all boats, and I think having some of these players back is beneficial for the business of the Tours, absolutely."

McIlroy never bothered to keep his feelings about LIV Golf secret.

"LIV had probably half of a good idea that was executed pretty poorly," McIlroy said.

"They had a lot of capital, but I think a lot of that capital was wasted in some ways, and I think they could have used that money a lot more strategically."

"They could have partnered with some of the governing bodies of the game."

"They certainly could have done better things with it, instead of just enriching tour pros that were already making a lot of money."

McIlroy went on to say he and Tiger Woods were frustrated with the timing of LIV Golf's collapse.

Now the league's collapse leaves Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Sergio Garcia, Tyrrell Hatton and many other former LIV players facing uncertain futures for the 2027 season and beyond.

The path back to the PGA Tour is not a direct one even for LIV's biggest stars.

Under current PGA Tour policy, former LIV golfers must serve a one-year suspension before becoming eligible to return.

That was the route taken by former Masters champion Patrick Reed.

Reed became eligible to compete in PGA Tour events as a non-member in August after leaving LIV Golf following the 2025 season.

He spent 2026 competing on the DP World Tour and is positioned to earn PGA Tour membership for the 2028 season.

Bryson DeChambeau was already the most intriguing free agent in golf because his LIV Golf contract expired after the 2026 season.

The 33-year-old had previously expressed hope that LIV 2.0 would move forward and he could continue to play all of golf's majors through his current exemptions.

He has also suggested in the past that he could simply focus on his popular YouTube channel.

Any potential return to the PGA Tour would depend in part on whether current players are willing to welcome him back.

DeChambeau is scheduled to play on the DP World Tour in December for the first time in six years.

His management team has been in contact with DP World Tour officials about more appearances.

Performing well on the DP World Tour is a path to earning PGA Tour membership for the 2028 season.

However, DeChambeau has yet to apply for DP World Tour membership.

The deadline to do so is Nov. 16.

The world's best golfers could soon play in the same tournaments against one another outside of just the four majors again.

But the process for former LIV players to return is likely to be a major topic of discussion in the coming months.

McIlroy's public support for allowing them back could influence other PGA Tour members.

A vote by PGA Tour players would be required to change the current one-year suspension policy.

Tiger Woods, who serves on the PGA Tour Policy Board, has not publicly stated his position on allowing LIV golfers to return.

The PGA Tour has not announced any plans to change the reinstatement rules.

LIV Golf changed how the PGA Tour had to conduct business and divided the sport into competing tours.

Now, after LIV abandoned plans for a player-owned relaunch, the question is whether the PGA Tour will work to bring those top players back.

Some LIV golfers may choose to focus on other opportunities rather than pursue a return to the PGA Tour.

DeChambeau, for example, has built a massive following on YouTube with his golf content.

Others may seek to play on the DP World Tour or other international circuits.

The collapse of LIV Golf marks the end of an era that saw professional golf's biggest names split into rival camps.