LIV Golf’s Big Bet Backfired: The Surprising Reason PGA Tour Stars Are No Longer Signing

LIV Golf is finding it increasingly difficult to recruit players from the PGA Tour ahead of the 2026 season—and “difficult” may be putting it lightly.

Not long ago, the Saudi-backed league was turning the golf world upside down, luring major champions like Jon Rahm with headline-grabbing deals. This offseason, however, the momentum has stalled. LIV has announced just two additions: Laurie Canter, who joined shortly after earning his PGA Tour card, and France’s Victor Perez, who signed with Cleeks GC.

There were rumors of more substantial moves, but those never materialized. Si Woo Kim reportedly walked away from late-stage talks, while Sungjae Im publicly denied any involvement with LIV on Instagram. To make matters worse, reports have surfaced suggesting Brooks Koepka is interested in leaving LIV altogether to return to the PGA Tour.

So what changed? Why is LIV suddenly struggling to attract not only elite stars but even mid-level PGA Tour players? Ironically, the answer lies in a strategic decision meant to do the exact opposite.

The decision that changed everything

This offseason, LIV Golf abandoned its defining 54-hole format and shifted to traditional 72-hole tournaments. The move was designed to strengthen LIV’s case for Official World Golf Ranking points, helping its players qualify for majors and, in theory, making the league more appealing to new recruits.

Instead, the change has largely backfired.

While Rahm had been vocal in pushing for 72-hole events, many LIV players preferred the shorter format. Dustin Johnson and others openly praised the 54-hole setup, which—love it or hate it—gave LIV a distinct identity in a crowded professional landscape.

By moving to 72 holes, LIV has blurred the lines between itself and the PGA Tour. Without ranking points, consistent major access, or a clearly differentiated product, the question becomes unavoidable: why would a PGA Tour player make the switch now? For most, money alone isn’t enough.

As Xander Schauffele’s father, Stefan, put it when asked about LIV rumors:

“LIV could have doubled that figure and the answer would have still been ‘no.’ The lack of world ranking points and the risk of being frozen out of majors just wasn’t worth it.”

If eye-watering contracts were going to sway players, they already would have. Tiger Woods famously turned down offers reportedly approaching $800 million. For some players, there is simply no price.

A tough sell for struggling players

LIV also isn’t an appealing reset for players searching for form. Recent examples haven’t inspired confidence: Cam Smith’s struggles and Rahm’s winless 2025 season raise questions about whether LIV sharpens or dulls competitive edges.

The numbers don’t help. No LIV player won a major in 2025, and only three represented their countries in the Ryder Cup. For a PGA Tour player already battling form, joining LIV can look less like a fresh start and more like a competitive dead end.

In abandoning its 54-hole format, LIV may have surrendered its final bargaining chip—the one element that truly set it apart. In hindsight, that decision could be remembered as the moment the league’s leverage began to fade.

Can LIV still turn it around?

At this point, there’s little more LIV can do structurally to entice top-tier talent. The future now rests largely with the players themselves.

One justification for the switch to 72 holes was to better prepare LIV golfers for major championships, where PGA Tour players dominated last season. Bryson DeChambeau’s final-round fade at the Masters, despite being in the final pairing, highlighted those concerns.

With a full four-round format now in place, LIV players finally have the platform to prove they can still contend at the highest level. If they start winning majors again, perceptions could change—and so might the recruitment landscape.

But another majorless season would likely deepen the problem. Not only would new signings remain scarce, but LIV’s biggest names could begin looking for the exit.