Johnson Wagner has revealed that one LIV Golf player local to him has confirmed that he is looking to secure a return to the PGA Tour amid serious doubts over the league’s future.
The focus for those on LIV Golf right now is to secure funding for next season.
Of course, the league has not got another event scheduled now until after The Open Championship takes place.
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There has been speculation that LIV may have already played their final event of the season.
But perhaps the situation could be even more severe, as the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia prepare to end their financial support.
LIV Golf player is looking to make his PGA Tour return
Players have been linked with returning to the PGA Tour in recent times. Reports claimed that Bryson DeChambeau’s management team spoke with the PGA Tour at The Masters to understand how a possible return would work.
And it seems that he is not alone.
Speaking on Scorecard on CBS, Johnson Wagner was asked about whether he could see LIV even being around in the 2027 season.
He went on to reveal that one player had confirmed plans to try and return to his former tour.
“I don’t. They’re looking for $300 million to go forward for next year. The way they’ve currently been running that tour with the purses, $300 million is just scratching the surface. I don’t know what company, and they’re trying to break it up into $50 million investments with different companies, I don’t know what company could possibly see a return on their investment with that. It would just be somebody else throwing money away just to keep it going,” he said.
“Also, the only way that model works is by reducing purses. And when these players signed with LIV, they signed to play $20, $25 million purses, and I think there’d be absolute revolt. I don’t know how many players have re-signed. But this year, I know there’s a lot of contracts up, and I’m sure players are looking for a way out.
“I spoke to a LIV player who lives in my hometown of Charlotte the other day, and he is trying to make his way back to the PGA Tour. I think that tour is absolutely going to crumble in August. It’ll be done.”
The LIV Golf players who are known to live in Charlotte
There are a couple of LIV Golf players who will not thank Wagner for his comments.
Wagner does not name the player he has spoken to. But there are two LIV players who have spoken in recent years about living in Charlotte, and playing at Quail Hollow – the club Wagner is connected to.
Caleb Surratt confirmed to 5 Clubs in an interview earlier this year that he lives in the North Carolina city, while Harold Varner III has been a member at Quail Hollow – as revealed by National Club Golfer.
Of course, there may be more names who live in the area.
It is certainly going to be fascinating to see how the coming weeks play out for LIV. There has been a lot of speculation about the league’s potentially imminent demise.
It is a surprise to hear Wagner so confidently predict that the league will not be around beyond August. Given that he has apparently spoken to a LIV player, his comments may act as a very ominous sign.
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