LIV Golf hopeful makes PGA Tour comeback despite punishment fears

Martin Tranier was one of a number of stars who attempted to break onto the LIV Golf circuit at December Promotions event, but a month later he is back on the PGA Tour

LIV Golf hopeful makes PGA Tour comeback despite punishment fears
Martin Tranier was one of a number of stars who attempted to break onto the LIV Golf circuit at December Promotions event, but a month later he is back on the PGA Tour

Martin Trainer has qualified to compete at this week’s Sony Open on the PGA Tour just one month after entering LIV Golf Promotions.

Tranier entered this week’s Qualifying School to earn a spot at the event in Hawaii, and succeeded, after coming out on top by shooting six-under-par in a weather-delayed qualifier. The 32-year-old took one of four spots, another taken by Parker Coody, who also shot six-under.

Dramatic rain delay forced a seven-for-two playoff between seven players who were tied a shot further back on five-under, deciding the final two spots.

Norman Xiong and Robert Streb emerged victorious, rounding out the Sony Open field ahead of Thursday’s first round. Trainer, who was only a month ago bidding to join LIV Golf, was one name that garnered attention following qualifying.

The 2019 Puerto Rico Open champion entered the promotion event in the hope of securing a one-year spot on the LIV circuit. And Trainer came close too, after making it through to the final day of the event, before falling three shots short, finishing the week in a tie for seventh.

The two who prevailed were Norman Xiong and Robert Streb, completing the Sony Open field ahead of Thursday’s opening round. One name who caught the attention on the back of qualifying though was Trainer, who was bidding to join LIV Golf just one month ago.

The 2019 Puerto Rico Open champion entered the promotion event in the hope of securing a one-year spot on the LIV circuit. And Trainer came close too, after making it through to the final day of the event, before falling three shots short, finishing the week in a tie for seventh.

LIV’s Q-School event proved to be somewhat of a grey area for PGA Tour members, amid the ongoing dispute between the two rival tours. Since LIV’s inception in the summer of 2022, the Tour have opted to ban each player that has opted to join the Saudi-backed league.

For LIV Promotions though it appeared the circuit had softened its stance, initially granting the green light for players to compete due to it not being an ‘unauthorised tournament’, the category LIV events are usually placed in. Soon after though, numerous reports suggested players could well be sanctioned for competing in the Q-School event.

At the time, Trainer himself expressed his concern over being punished by the Tour financially, but appeared confident of avoiding a ban. “We’ll see what happens,” he told Golfweek in December. “They might fine me.”

Trainer acknowledged that at the end of 2023, he lost his PGA Tour card and turned to the LIV event. It was an odd circumstance since I was considering my options and trying to hold onto my card, which is how I ended up in that predicament.

“I think there will probably be a fine instead of a suspension.” Before making his comeback to the PGA Tour later this week, Trainer looks to have avoided any major damage. He will play in the opening round of the tournament on Thursday with Carl Yuan and Josh Teater.