LIV Golfer Dismisses PGA Tour Return Claims as ‘Biggest Joke Ever’

Following the news that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund will withdraw backing of LIV Golf after the 2026 season, speculation has intensified about the future of players who joined the breakaway golf league. However, at least one LIV player is pushing back against the narrative that competitors are rushing to return to their former tours.

In an exclusive interview with The Times, Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri dismissed suggestions that LIV Golf players are eager to return to the PGA Tour as “the biggest joke ever.” Lahiri, a member of Crushers GC, made the bold claim that numerous colleagues share his sentiment.

“I will not name names, but I know at least a dozen players who’d rather not play golf than go back to the PGA Tour,” Lahiri told journalist Rick Broadbent. He characterized the notion of mass defections as “propaganda,” stating: “To generalize that everybody is falling over backwards to come back to the PGA Tour is the same kind of propaganda we’ve had for four years.”

The situation remains complex for LIV players considering their options. Those who departed for LIV Golf face suspensions from the PGA Tour, while circuits including the DP World Tour and Asian Tour are already at capacity. This could leave many professionals in professional limbo should LIV Golf cease operations.

Lahiri confirmed he personally has no intention of attempting to rejoin the PGA Tour, though he declined to elaborate on his specific reasons. He did, however, point to transparency issues as a factor in his original departure.

“A lot of players moved from the PGA Tour because the lack of transparency there was just annoying,” he explained. “It’s remained the same – if I’m a PGA Tour member and suddenly you’re welcoming back LIV golfers, I’d be furious. Again, that’s a transparency issue.”

The comments come amid heightened uncertainty about LIV Golf’s future. While several players including Bryson DeChambeau, Lahiri’s team captain, have publicly backed the league’s potential to attract new investors, others appear less confident. Earlier this week, Belgian golfer Thomas Pieters told the “Dan on Golf” podcast that he was “ready to retire” amid rumors of LIV Golf’s demise, while also stating he had no desire to return to the PGA Tour.

Despite these concerns, LIV Golf’s leadership maintains they are actively working to secure the circuit’s future. CEO Scott O’Neil recently suggested that the team-based structure of the league represents its most marketable asset to potential investors looking to replace Saudi funding.

Lahiri, however, believes LIV Golf has another significant advantage that will attract investment regardless of the Saudi withdrawal. “It’s not so much about finding investment, I think it’s more about creating the right business plan,” he said. “You have something that is sustainable and scalable and investment will come automatically.”

The Indian golfer emphasized LIV Golf’s international footprint as its key selling point. “There’s a dearth of investment opportunities in sports per se and our biggest strength is that we’re global. I don’t see another league in golf that can operate globally at the scale at which we have, so that makes us a niche property to begin with.”

This global reach stands in contrast to the primarily U.S.-based PGA Tour, which has historically dominated professional golf but faces challenges expanding internationally. Whether LIV Golf’s global strategy will be enough to secure its future remains to be seen, as the golf world watches closely to see if the Saudi-backed league can survive beyond 2026.

For players like Lahiri, the uncertainty creates a difficult professional outlook, though he remains optimistic about his options. “I don’t have status with the DP World Tour and I’m 100 percent certain the PGA Tour is not going to welcome any of us back with open arms,” he acknowledged. “If I have to figure something out I think I can, but I don’t need to stress about it now.”