PGA Tour boss hasn’t spoken to LIV players about a return but Brooks Koepka is telling others he wants to

While the golf world inches closer to LIV stars possibly returning to the PGA Tour, one major champion has reportedly made his plans clear.

PGA Tour boss Jay Monahan refused to say whether he’d spoken to LIV players about returning in the wake of a second meeting with US President Donald Trump that has put the “reunification” of golf within touching distance.

It comes as golfing great Fred Couples declared LIV star Brooks Koepka “really wants to come back and play the Tour” even though Monahan conceded “not everybody is going to be happy” about any reintegration of those who left.

Monahan, Tiger Woods and Australian veteran Adam Scott all met with Trump in Washington last month along with Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of the Saudi Public Investment Fund that has spent $3bn on LIV and wants to invest in the PGA Tour.

While it’s expected LIV would live on in some form, having signed a deal to play in Adelaide until 2031, Monahan briefed media ahead of the PGA Tour event at Bay Hill this week and outlined his optimism for star players to return in some shape sooner rather than later.

“We’re doing everything we can to reunify the game,” Monahan said.

PGA Tour boss Jay Monahan and Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, which is behind LIV Golf. Picture: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

“I think anything I’ve said is consistent with what should be said when you’re in the middle of a complex discussion to try and unify the game. It doesn’t speak to my confidence level, it speaks to the moment. I view that meeting (with President Trump) as a huge step, and so I look at that very positive.

“Seventy per cent of our fans tell us that they’d like to see the game reunified versus about 30 per cent who’d like to see an investment.

“So that’s the core foundation to why we’re spending the amount of time trying to accomplish that and at that same time responding to fans and doing everything we can to strengthen fan engagement, strengthen our schedule.”

But while there has been movement in talks, and a renewed hope an announcement could be forthcoming, Monahan suggested there would be nothing confirmed before this week’s Players Championship, which will mark a small milestone.

Brooks Koepka played for team USA in the Ryder Cup after his LIV move. Picture: Patrick Smith/Getty Images

England’s Laurie Canter will become the first former LIV player to take part in a PGA Tour event outside the majors having qualified via world ranking points after finishing runner-up in the South African Open.

Canter played all of the 2022 LIV season and was a reserve player at times in 2023 and into 2024.

But more LIV players on the PGA Tour could be coming if Couples is right about his Koepka claims.

“I talk to Brooks Koepka all the time,“ Couples told Seattle’s KJR 93.3FM on Monday.

“He wants to come back. I will say that: I believe he really wants to come back and play the Tour.”

LIV will host its third event for 2025 in Hong Kong this week.

Originally published as PGA Tour boss hasn’t spoken to LIV players about a return but Brooks Koepka is telling others he wants to