Australia’s Cameron Smith is one of several LIV Golf superstars who have been handed a PGA Tour olive branch this morning, with the traditional competition setting up a “Returning Member Program” to help breakaway players come back into the fold.
Smith, Bryson DeChambeau, and former world No.1 Jon Rahm are the highest-profile players who have been offered a return, with each now needing to tell the PGA by February 2 if they want to be reinstated. The situation comes after five-time major winner Brooks Koepka announced his PGA comeback at nearly the same time, leaving LIV Golf behind.
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“This is a one-time, defined window and does not set a precedent for future situations. Once the door closes, there is no promise this path will be available again,” PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp said in a letter to fans.
“We will continue to aggressively pursue anything that enhances the experience and makes the tour stronger.
“This is part of our commitment to fans, who expect the world’s best players to compete on the PGA Tour week in and week out.”
The ‘Returning Member’ program is an option for any stars who won a major championship or the Players Championship since the men’s game split back in 2022. Smith is eligible thanks to his TPC Sawgrass and St Andrews victories.
Now, the big question — does the 32-year-old actually want to get back on the PGA Tour grind and LIV Golf behind? Well, it’s not so simple. While reports are already suggesting Rahm (who has reportedly “long regretted” joining LIV since he swapped in early 2024) and two U.S. Open champ DeChambeau are very eager to take up the offer, Smith’s stance is less clear.
There’s plenty that throws cogs in the wheels here. For one, Smith is already 32 years old and has long spoken about how happy he is to be playing LIV competitions at this time in his career. Then there’s simply the fact that he missed the cut in all four majors through the 2025 competitive year and may not be in quite the purple patch he was before leaving.
(Those struggles are an argument, but considering he was one putt away from being crowned Aus Open champ in December, this Base writer believes there’s little doubt he could still kick it with the big dogs should he take the chance.)
On how much he likes the breakaway golfing competition, Smith said in Adelaide last year: “I feel like my job as a professional golfer is to grow the game, and that is something that I’ve always been passionate about. I don’t see myself as a disruptor. I made a choice I thought was right, because I thought it was what golf needed, particularly in Australia.”
“The last few years here have been massive, not only for LIV and the sport in Australia, but golf in general. It’s been awesome to be a part of.”
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Maybe one big selling point for Smith — besides the fact this feels like a one-and-one “get out of jail” option from the PGA — is that he’ll be able to compete in the Olympic team if he returns. While still a while away, Smith would surely want to represent his country on home soil in the Olympic Games in Brisbane in 2032, just before his 39th birthday.
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But then, on the other hand, LIV Golf continues to pile cash into his bank account, and he’s apparently already plotting a raid to grab emerging Aussie talent Elvis Smylie for his ‘Ripper GC’ team, which he currently captains.
Either way, time’s ticking — we’ll find out what all the huge LIV stars have chosen by February 2.
