As professional golf continues its long march toward reunification, fans are eagerly anticipating the possibility of seeing some of LIV Golf’s biggest stars return to regular competition alongside PGA Tour players. While the four major championships have offered occasional glimpses of these dream matchups, a broader reunion would restore the week-to-week rivalries that made men’s professional golf so compelling.
Since launching in 2022, LIV Golf has dramatically altered the landscape of professional golf. Backed initially by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, the league introduced a team-based format, 54-hole tournaments, no cuts, and enormous purses that attracted many of the game’s biggest names. Its arrival created a seismic split in the sport, drawing away major champions, Ryder Cup stars, and fan favorites from the PGA Tour.
Now, with LIV’s long-term future under increasing scrutiny and ongoing discussions about professional golf’s structure, attention has shifted to which LIV players fans would most like to see competing regularly on the PGA Tour once again.
Harold Varner III made the jump from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf in August 2022, officially joining the league ahead of LIV Golf Boston, the fourth event of LIV’s inaugural season. He was one of six notable players announced at that time, and he was refreshingly candid about his decision: the financial opportunity was simply too significant to ignore.
Born on August 15, 1990, Varner is currently 35 years old. A native of Akron, Ohio, he was raised in Gastonia, North Carolina, where he developed into one of the nation’s top junior players before starring at East Carolina University. He turned professional in 2012 and quickly became known for his athleticism, charisma, and engaging personality.
Before joining LIV, Varner enjoyed a successful PGA Tour career. While he did not capture an official PGA Tour victory, he consistently contended against the world’s best and earned widespread respect. His most notable pre-LIV wins included the 2016 Australian PGA Championship and the 2022 Saudi International, his first victory sanctioned by the Asian Tour.
His move to LIV Golf has been highly rewarding, both competitively and financially. Varner has competed in every LIV season since the league’s launch. His signature LIV moment came in 2023, when he captured his first individual LIV Golf title at the Washington, D.C. event. That victory earned him a $4 million first-place prize and solidified his place among the league’s top performers.
In 2023, Varner finished seventh in the LIV Golf individual standings, one of the best seasons of his professional career. Across his LIV tenure, he has demonstrated remarkable consistency, recording numerous top-10 finishes while establishing himself as a valuable team player.
Current player profile and career snapshot:
- Age: 35
- Turned professional: 2012
- LIV Golf debut: 2022
- Current LIV team: Smash GC
- 2026 LIV individual ranking: 21st
- Career professional wins: 3 worldwide
- LIV individual wins: 1
- Best major finish: T23 at the 2022 Masters Tournament
- Best PGA Championship finish: T29 (2020 and 2023)
Statistically, Varner remains one of LIV’s stronger ball-strikers. In 2025, he ranked 13th in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee and 8th in Strokes Gained: Approach. He also ranked among the league leaders in greens in regulation, hitting 69 percent of greens. His biggest challenge has been on and around the greens, particularly putting, which has occasionally kept him from contending more often.
Financially, the move has been transformative. Beyond guaranteed contract money, LIV’s lucrative purse structure has significantly increased his earnings. His 2023 Washington victory alone delivered a career-changing payday, and he has continued to earn substantial prize money through both individual and team competition.
For Varner, joining LIV Golf has provided financial security, global exposure, and the opportunity to compete in a team-based environment while maintaining a high competitive level. It has also allowed him to continue expanding his philanthropic efforts, including his commitment to making golf more accessible to underserved communities.
In many ways, Harold Varner III’s LIV decision has been a mega-success. He has gained financial freedom, captured one of the biggest victories of his career, and remained a relevant and competitive figure in professional golf’s evolving landscape.
Bryson DeChambeau is also on our list. Few players in golf generate as much excitement. His power, creativity, and willingness to challenge conventional wisdom have made him one of the sport’s most fascinating figures. A two-time major champion, DeChambeau has remained highly competitive throughout his LIV tenure, and his return to regular PGA Tour events would instantly add electricity to any field. His battles with the game’s elite would be must-watch television.
Other golfers we would love see return to the PGA Tour include Jon Rahm. Before joining LIV, Rahm was one of the PGA Tour’s most dominant players, combining consistency, intensity, and world-class shot-making. His presence elevated every tournament he entered. A reunion with the PGA Tour would restore one of the sport’s premier competitors to the game’s deepest fields.
Cameron Smith is another player whose return would be celebrated. The Australian’s exceptional short game, unflappable demeanor, and flair for dramatic shot-making made him one of the Tour’s most entertaining stars. His 2022 Open Championship victory remains one of the defining performances of the decade.
Brooks Koepka has already shown how compelling a LIV-to-PGA return can be. One of the game’s fiercest competitors, Koepka thrives on the biggest stages and brings an intensity that elevates any event. His successful reintegration has provided a potential roadmap for others who may follow.
Other notable names fans would love to see back in regular PGA Tour competition include Dustin Johnson, whose effortless power once made him a perennial contender; Patrick Reed, known for his grit and match-play prowess; and Joaquin Niemann, whose global appeal and consistent excellence continue to grow.
LIV Golf itself has undeniably left a lasting mark on the sport. It forced the PGA Tour to reevaluate its financial model, increase purses, enhance player benefits, and create new competitive opportunities. In many ways, LIV accelerated changes that might otherwise have taken years to materialize. Even critics acknowledge that its impact has reshaped the business of professional golf.
At the center of LIV’s creation was former world No. 1 Greg Norman, who served as the league’s founding CEO and championed its disruptive vision. In 2025, Scott O’Neil succeeded Norman as CEO, bringing a new corporate leadership style as LIV sought to strengthen its long-term business strategy and global footprint.
The possibility of reunification remains one of golf’s biggest storylines. Players, fans, and industry leaders all recognize that the sport is strongest when its best competitors face each other regularly. The major championships have proven just how compelling those matchups can be.
A unified professional game would not erase the controversy surrounding LIV Golf’s formation, nor would it undo the divisions of recent years. But it would restore what golf fans crave most: the opportunity to watch the world’s best players compete against one another on the game’s grandest stages, week after week.
Whether it is Varner III’s fire, DeChambeau’s power, Rahm’s passion, Smith’s artistry, or Koepka’s competitive edge, the return of LIV’s brightest stars would inject even more excitement into professional golf. For fans, that reunion cannot come soon enough.
