Former major champions Tom Lehman and Steve Stricker expressed conflicting views on the reintegration of LIV Golf players into traditional American circuits as the Saudi-backed league faces severe financial uncertainty for its 2027 season.
The Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia announced it will halt financial backing for LIV Golf after the current season, forcing league officials to pitch a scaled-back 10-event schedule to secure $300 million from new private investors.
Lehman Calls for Strict Penalties
Speaking on the Beyond The Clubhouse Podcast, 1996 Open champion Tom Lehman argued that returning defectors like Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka should lose all prior exemptions and face strict regulatory penalties.
"You know, I would have a policy that says if you leave the PGA tour for more than 12 months to play in a competing tour, and then you want to come back, you can come back, but you don’t come back with any kind of status whatsoever," said Lehman.
Lehman insisted that star players must earn their way back through the Korn Ferry Tour or rely solely on sponsor invitations, rather than utilizing special programs like the newly established Returning Member Program.
"You’re at the bottom of the barrel," added Lehman.
The former world number one emphasized that a player's historical achievements should be completely disregarded by officials during the reinstatement process.
"So if you went away as a top 50, you know, in the world rankings, or a major champion, you know, I don’t care what your status is," stated Lehman.
Lehman further asserted that allowing immediate access to PGA Tour fields undermines the commitment of players who rejected massive financial offers to remain loyal to the established circuit.
"When you come back, you go behind the tour school," remarked Lehman.
Lehman proposed that forcing players to spend an entire season on the developmental circuit would establish a proper penalty system for those who left.
"You know, and you start from the bottom of the barrel when it comes to eligibility and you work your way back up," said Lehman.
Lehman specifically targeted the current structural leniency that allows players to seamlessly rejoin the elite ranks after serving short administrative absences.
"And what that means for them is basically nothing but sponsor invites or even better yet, put them back on the Korn Ferry for a year," suggested Lehman.
The veteran golfer noted that he would have been highly critical of the administration's current compromises if he were actively competing on the tour today.
"But to leave, then to come back and be able to just jump right in and play at any point.
I don’t care if you sit out a year, it is wrong. I’m totally against that," stated Lehman.
Lehman reiterated that a standard disciplinary slap on the wrist is insufficient for repairing the competitive divide caused by the rival league.
"And if I was playing back then, or playing right now, I would be really vocal about that," added Lehman.
Lehman concluded his critique by stressing that the integrity of the tournament system depends entirely on merit-based re-entry pipelines.
"I think that’s a terrible idea to let the guys who are not loyal to the PGA Tour leave and then walk back in with just a slap on the wrist and then say ‘let’s go, boys’.
I think that’s wrong," asserted Lehman.
Lehman concluded his argument by reinforcing the necessity of a total competitive reset for all returning individuals.
"You know, start over. Earn your way back up and that’s what I would do," said Lehman.
Lehman extended his strict stance directly to Crushers GC captain Bryson DeChambeau, who is currently assisting LIV CEO Scott O’Neil with investor presentations while his contract nears its expiration.
"Start over. Earn your way back up," reiterated Lehman.
Lehman acknowledged his personal fondness for DeChambeau's playing style but maintained that organizational fairness must supersede individual popularity.
"I don’t care who you are. You know, and I love Bryson.
I love him, I mean, I think he’s one of my favourite players in the world.
I love Bryson, and he’s good enough where, you know, you put him in that position, he’ll work his way back up," stated Lehman.
Lehman concluded that granting special privileges above loyal tour members who rejected lucrative breakaway contracts remains fundamentally unjust.
"You know, but to put him above the guys who loyally stayed with the Tour and have played on the Tour, who maybe even turned down big money, I think is wrong," said Lehman.
Stricker and Others Offer Different Views
In a direct rebuttal on social media, 1995 PGA Champion Ian Elkington dismissed the calls for severe punishments, urging the tour to prioritize field quality above political retribution.
"Get all the best players back on [the PGA] tour to make it great again… cause it’s s**t now," replied Elkington.
PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp adopted a more neutral position during an interview on The Rich Eisen Show, acknowledging that fans ultimately desire unified, high-caliber competitions.
"I would just say in general, fans have always been consistent," said Rolapp.
Rolapp noted that the executive branch remains fully aware of the public demand to witness the world's premier golfers competing against one another more frequently.
"They want to see the best golfers together as often as possible and I agree with that. That’s great," stated Rolapp.
Meanwhile, 2021 U. S.
Ryder Cup captain Steve Stricker provided an alternative perspective during a Q&A with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, focusing on the potential benefits for the PGA Tour Champions circuit.
"There’s two ways of looking at it, right?
Sure, to have the guys that are 50 now, or close to it, like Lee Westwood, [Ian] Poulter, Pat Perez, some other guys [Phil Mickelson and Henrik Stenson], they would be hits here on the Champions Tour.
This tour could use that. I look at it from that standpoint.
Then I look at it from the other standpoint of like well, they did leave.
And I think each case is going to be taken differently from what I understand. I really don’t know," explained Stricker.
Stricker admitted that his dual role as a tournament director and a competitor creates a complex internal debate regarding commercial appeal versus structural consequences.
"I look at it both ways and I’m not sure which way is right.
I mean, if I’m a tournament director I would love to have those guys and we’re in this business right here [with the AmFam Championship].
Don’t get me wrong, I would love to have Poulter and Westwood and Pat Perez and some other guys there, too.
It would only help our event, you know?
But I also know that there are probably consequences for them if they want to come back," said Stricker.
Amid these administrative debates, Bryson DeChambeau remains publicly committed to establishing the long-term validity of the team-based golfing format.
"We’ll see if investors like it or not.
I’m giving all I can to make it happen, and if it doesn’t, it doesn’t happen," said DeChambeau.
DeChambeau emphasized that the structural layout of franchise golf offers unique opportunities to build local and national sporting foundations worldwide.
"I do see value in what team golf can provide, not only worldwide but also in grass-rooting the game of golf.
National support, team national support, city, local support, we grass-root ourselves there," added DeChambeau.
While DeChambeau pitches new investors, Patrick Reed is scheduled to return to the PGA Tour this August following the expiration of his mandatory 12-month suspension.
