💛 A quick favor, if you've got a second.
We're really happy that you chose to read one of our stories and sincerely hope you'll stick around to read more. We took our paywall down — for now — but that won't last forever, and when the gate goes back up, we'd love for you to already be on the inside.
It's free. So please enter your email here and don't forget to like and follow us on all of your favorite Social Media platforms!
Sam Burns remained loyal to the PGA Tour when LIV Golf launched in 2022, but he harbors no resentment toward players who departed for the rival league. Speaking exclusively to OutKick at a charity event in St. Louis this week, the world’s No. 7-ranked golfer expressed openness to seeing Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and other LIV defectors compete on the PGA Tour once again.
Burns framed potential reconciliation as beneficial for professional golf broadly. “I think it’s best for the game of golf as a whole,” he said, emphasizing his desire as a competitor to face elite opponents consistently. The five-time PGA Tour winner believes a pathway will eventually emerge, though he acknowledged uncertainty about its specific form.
When LIV launched, speculation briefly linked Burns to the breakaway circuit. He quickly dismissed those reports and reaffirmed his commitment to the PGA Tour. However, he has maintained a measured perspective toward players who chose differently, saying he neither faults nor condemns their decisions without understanding their personal circumstances.
That restraint persists four years later. Burns reiterated that golfers deserve freedom to chart their own careers and that unfavorable outcomes don’t justify recrimination. His stance reflects broader shifts in the sport’s landscape as LIV navigates significant upheaval.
Brooks Koepka’s return to the PGA Tour this January through a specialized Returning Member Program demonstrated one possible route back, though it included substantial financial penalties and restrictions. The PGA Tour has since closed the program and declined to establish a formal pathway for future LIV players seeking reentry.
LIV Golf meanwhile confronts mounting pressures. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund plans to cease financing after 2026, though CEO Scott O’Neil announced this month that new investors have committed to backing the league. The circuit also condensed its 2026 schedule, replacing a season-ending team championship with an Indianapolis event.
Burns acknowledged the turbulence surrounding LIV without claiming expertise on potential solutions. He emphasized his preference for seeing golf’s brightest talents compete together regardless of administrative complexities. “I think ultimately you’ll see those guys back at some point,” Burns said, framing reunification as inevitable and beneficial for the sport’s future.
More Stories
Nick Kyrgios Suspended After Positive Cocaine Test at ATP Event
China Showcases Robotics Advances at Beijing Conference as Industry Seeks Real-World Applications
Willow Nightingale Prepares for High-Stakes AEW Championship Defense Against Mercedes Moné at All In