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Golf
What Richard Bland was told privately about LIV golfers playing on the Champions Tour
TL;DR
LIV Golf faces uncertainty as the Saudi Public Investment Fund withdraws support, jeopardizing the future of its players. With a one-year suspension from the PGA Tour, players may need to find new opportunities if LIV collapses.
Key points
- LIV Golf's future is in doubt due to funding withdrawal.
- Saudi Public Investment Fund has pulled support for next season.
- LIV players face a one-year suspension from the PGA Tour.
- Players may need to find new opportunities if LIV collapses.
- Brooks Koepka managed to negotiate a deal with the PGA Tour.
Photo by Yu Chun Christopher Wong/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
With LIV Golfās future in doubt, so is the future of all of its players.
The Saudi Public Investment Fund has withdrawn support for the tour for next season, meaning LIV will need to find new investment or risk collapsing entirely.
LIV players have a one-year suspension from the PGA Tour dating back to their most recent LIV event, and while some may be able to strike deals with the tour as Brooks Koepka did, the rest will have to seek new homes for 2027 if LIV does indeed fold.
Many LIV players have burned bridges with the PGA Tour through their words and actions over the last few years. Phil Mickelson was among the players to file a lawsuit against the tour after he joined LIV, so itās unlikely heāll ever make an appearance on the PGA Tour again.
But what about other LIV players? What about those seeking a place on the Champions Tour after they have served their year-long suspension? According to Richard Bland, the tourās stance on this has been made very clear.
Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images
Richard Bland told heās not welcome on the Champions Tour
Bland said at LIV Virginia that heās planning a āsemi-retirementā after this season. At 53 years old, and with his tourās future in doubt, he believes itās time to step away from full-time competition.
In theory, heād be eligible for the Champions Tour after serving his yearās suspension. But Bland said that heās been told that that wonāt be an option for him. He said, āFrom what Iāve been told, Iām not hugely welcome there.
āAs far as Iām aware, I was never given the exemption ā well, I wasnāt given the exemption. Iām the only senior major champion never to get that exemption, and thatās fine, I donāt have an issue with that. I think the Champions Tour have made it pretty much impossible for anybody to come and play.
āIām not going to go chasing it. Iāll be 54 years old, but Iām going to be banned for a year anyway. Like you say, I got asked the question the other day, would you consider going back to DP World Q-School? No.ā
This might not be the case for every senior LIV player, but Bland has burned his bridges with the PGA Tour, and there is no rebuilding them.
Why Richard Bland isnāt welcome on the Champions Tour
Even more than most of his LIV Golf colleagues, Bland has been a thorn in the side of the PGA Tour since joining LIV.
In 2024, Bland won the Senior PGA Championship and the U.S. Senior Open. Typically, winning the Senior PGA grants a player a one-year exemption to play on the PGA Tour Champions, but the tour said that he is ineligible to play in any Tour-sanctioned events because of his LIV status.
Bland has been one of the most outspoken critics of the partnership between the DP World Tour and the PGA Tour. He believes the DP World Tour made a mistake by becoming a feeder circuit for the PGA Tour.
He specifically hates the rule where the top 10 players on the DP World Tour earn PGA Tour cards every year, arguing it weakens the European circuit by giving away its best talent.
And Bland feels robbed of Senior Tour history by the PGA Tour. Because the Senior Open Championship is co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour, Bland was barred from competing there in 2024 because he refused to pay the fines levied against him for joining LIV.
This prevented him from winning three senior majors in one year. His response was characteristically blunt: he stated he had no intention of paying the fines because he never planned to return to the DP World Tour anyway, effectively burning the bridge.
There is no love lost between Bland and the PGA Tour, so itās no surprise he isnāt welcome on the Champions Tour.
Q&A
What does the withdrawal of support from the Saudi Public Investment Fund mean for LIV Golf?
The withdrawal indicates that LIV Golf may face financial difficulties and could collapse without new investment.
How does the one-year suspension from the PGA Tour affect LIV golfers?
LIV golfers are currently suspended from the PGA Tour, limiting their ability to compete and forcing them to seek alternative opportunities.
What options do LIV golfers have if the tour collapses?
If LIV Golf collapses, players will need to find new homes for competition, similar to how Brooks Koepka negotiated a deal with the PGA Tour.
What is the future of LIV Golf and its players?
The future is uncertain as LIV Golf needs to secure new investment to continue, impacting the careers of its players.
