This week, the world of golf was rocked by the stunning news that the heated rivalry between the PGA Tour and LIV was coming to an end in a surprise merger. After so much vitriol and back-and-forth, the tours are coming together, with a ton of money entering the world of golf thanks to the Saudi government. This also means that the tours will be united, with all the top golfers in the world competing head-to-head once again.
While so much is still in the air, it is clear that some of the top golfers who left for LIV will be back. Bettors will now be able to wager on golf betting sites on tournaments that feature all the big names the PGA Tour lost to LIV, and fans will see bigger and better tournaments. If you need a refresher, let’s look at some of the top LIV golfers that will return to the PGA Tour due to this major merger.
Brooks Koepka
Brooks Koepka is a five-time major winner and one of the most popular golfers in the world. He is riding high right now after a stunning victory in the PGA Championship, and it is clear he still has a lot of gas left in the tank. Koepka is a player who steps it up in the biggest tournaments, and having him back on the PGA Tour will be good for the game. He is a rare talent who could continue to add to what is becoming a historically stacked resume.
Dustin Johnson
Dustin Johnson is a powerful competitor. He is one of the hardest-hitting drivers in the sport and has performed well on the LIV tour. While he is 38 years old, there is no reason to think he doesn’t have some good years left in him. Doubting Dustin Johnson seems like a mistake at this phase of his career. He has won two majors and an incredible 24 PGA Tour tournaments. Expect him to add to that total when he comes back, as he has been playing at a high level for LIV.
Patrick Reed
Patrick Reed has yet to earn the affection of golf fans around the world, but he is unquestionably one of the best players who left for LIV. He is currently 32 years old, which positions him squarely in the prime of his career. He broke out on the biggest stage when he won the Masters in 2018, which announced him as a talent to watch. Following that win, Reed has performed well at other tournaments, but that was the defining moment of his career. He will look to build on his legacy in return to the Tour and put behind him some of the controversy that has dogged his career.
Talor Gooch
Talor Gooch might not be a name known to the casual golf fan. He has one PGA Tour win to his name, taking home a victory at the RSM Classic. But he has not finished higher than 14th at a major and is not a hugely popular golfer. However, Gooch has been lights-out at LIV, winning two LIV events in Adelaide and Singapore. He is still 31 years old, and if he can carry over the momentum from LIV, his career could blossom significantly.
Cameron Smith
At one point, Cameron Smith was the second-ranked golfer on the planet. He won The Open Championship in 2022 and has placed well in numerous majors. He has won six PGA Tour events and is still only 29. He was one of the highest-ranked players to leave for LIV, and now, the Australian will return to the PGA Tour a lot wealthier. Still in the prime of his career, it is not out of the question for Smith to earn at least one more major.
