PGA Tour pros past and present continue to share their contrasting opinions on whether LIV Golf players should serve punishments before returning to Tour events.
Brandel Chamblee suggests that it is necessary for LIV Golf players to face penalties in the form of fines and suspensions prior to participating in PGA Tour events.
Chamblee, aged 61, is a vocal opponent of the league and its financial support from Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, overseen by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
In the previous year, the Golf Channel expert blamed Greg Norman for adversely impacting Cam Smith’s professional trajectory by persuading him to join the series.
After several months, he demanded that Phil Mickelson be expelled from the World Golf Hall of Fame due to the American golfer’s participation in LIV Golf, stating that it had caused irreversible harm to the sport.
Nevertheless, he appears to be willing to consider the return of players to the Tour under the condition that they face consequences for their choices.
“They should have to sit out for a period of time, pay fines and when they come back, support/play in only non-signature events for as long as they played for LIV,” he posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. These comments build on those by world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler at the WM Phoenix Open.
He claimed Wednesday on the Golf Channel that LIV golfers “definitely shouldn’t be able to come back without any sort of contribution to the tour.” He also highlighted the “different levels” of defections.
“You had some guys that left our tour and then sued our tour,” Scheffler recalled. “That wasn’t really in great taste,” before adding: “There should be some sort of caveat to them getting back on our Tour.”
“I think that if they want a pathway back, there should be one, but it definitely shouldn’t just be coming back in the first week they want to come back and play.”
If Chamblee’s suggestion that returnees must miss signature events for as long as they were away, then it would be bad news for Mickelson. He, for example, would effectively be banned from the limited-field events for around two years after first applying for a release from the Tour in April 2022.
Other early adopters, including Charl Schwartzel, Dustin Johnson, Graeme McDowell, Henrik Stenson, Louis Oosthuizen, Martin Kaymer and Sergio Garcia, would be among the worst affected.
The stance taken by Chamblee and Scheffler, opposing the idea of LIV golfers having easy pathways to PGA events, is supported by top players such as Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, and Rickie Fowler.
However, it is worth mentioning that Rory McIlroy is now no longer part of that increasingly larger group. Last month, he made an unexpected statement expressing his belief in the difficulty of imposing penalties on individuals.
According to him, punishment should not even be considered necessary.
He suggested that if individuals still meet the requirements to participate in this tour and express their desire to return to the sport, they should be allowed to do so without any restrictions.
“I have altered my perspective on that matter, as I previously expressed strong disapproval.
This change occurred because I now understand the current state of golf and recognize that a weakened PGA Tour, LIV Tour, or any other form of decline would be detrimental to both parties involved.”