5 LIV Golf stars facing big PGA Tour call after harsh contract decision.

LIV Golf has successfully attracted some of the biggest stars from the PGA Tour in recent years, but the league is now preparing for a fresh round of contract negotiations.

Three years after making a splash by signing top-tier talent, LIV Golf’s leadership is once again gearing up to renegotiate deals. The league famously enticed players like Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, and Bryson DeChambeau with massive contracts, reportedly worth over $100 million each.

However, according to Golfweek, similar high-value deals may not be on the table this time, with many of those contracts set to expire either at the end of this season or the next.

While players on the LIV circuit have generally expressed satisfaction with their choice to join, uncertainty looms as their agreements near expiration. Here’s a look at five players who face major decisions about their future.

Dustin Johnson.

Nobody took to the LIV format better than Johnson. The two-time major winner clinched both of the league’s season-long titles in its maiden season, winning the Team Championship with the 4Aces alongside the individual crown. Per last week’s report, though, Johnson’s contract is one of the first to expire following the end of the current campaign.

The 4Aces skipper has made no secret of the initial temptation of the eye-watering signing fees, but with this appearing not to be on offer this time around, his decision may prove a little harder. If he were to make a PGA Tour return, it would come with a one-year suspension from his last LIV event, per Tour rules.

He does, however, have plenty of ties to the breakaway league, including being the captain of one of its 13 franchises in the 4Aces.

Koepka’s contract, meanwhile, is set to come to an end a year later, but the five-time major winner’s future has become a hot topic in recent months thanks to Fred Couples. The 1992 Masters champion revealed in March that Koepka wanted to make a return to the PGA Tour after conversing with him.

And whilst he seemingly played down Couples’ comments, Koepka refused to fully commit his future to LIV. “Everybody seems to have their own opinion, and no one asks me,” Koepka said ahead of the league’s recent event in Singapore.

“Like I’ve said before, I’m not in those rooms. I’ve got a contract obligation out here to fulfill, and then we’ll see what happens.“ It remains to be seen where Koepka’s priorities lie, but there is no doubt his contract negotiations will have a big part to play.

Talor Gooch.

Talor Gooch announced himself as LIV’s unlikely No. 1 player in 2023, after taking home the league’s individual crown with three wins. The run saw Gooch play some of the best golf of his career, on the way to winning three times, including in back-to-back weeks in Adelaide and Singapore.

Despite his achievements, he has often found his name snubbed from the conversation of the world’s best, especially when it comes to playing major golf. If he does one day want to stamp his authority on the flagship stage, a move away from LIV could well be required.

For now, though, the 2023 champion will continue to re-find his form on the 54-hole circuit, alongside his Smash GC captain, Koepka.

Bryson DeChambeau

In recent years, DeChambeau has emerged as a prominent figure in the LIV Golf league, particularly after narrowly defeating Rory McIlroy to win the U.S. Open last June. Once known for stirring controversy, the Crushers team captain has gained popularity among fans since fully aligning himself with LIV.

However, like Brooks Koepka, DeChambeau’s current contract is set to expire after the upcoming season. While there has been speculation about a potential return to the PGA Tour as early as this season’s end, those rumors have been downplayed. A source close to LIV Golf told Mirror U.S. Sports that DeChambeau and the other team captains are “dedicated to the long-term growth and future of their teams and the league.”

Still, LIV will need to negotiate a new deal with DeChambeau to ensure he stays with the organization beyond his current contract.