Do we actually miss the PGA Tour stars who moved to LIV Golf?

Ahead of the first event of LIV Golf’s second season, the breakaway league has recruited new faces to bolster its appeal and field quality.

Thomas Pieters, Danny Lee, Brendan Steele and Dean Burmester have made leaps from the DP World Tour and the PGA Tour to join the league which has cut the world of professional golf in half.

But there have been reports of regret and ‘buyer’s remorse’ from one player in particular, so we begged the question on the newest episode of The Slam podcast: Do we actually miss the players who have left?

Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Cameron Smith, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Reed constitute the biggest names to walk away from the PGA Tour.

We consider what they had left to give on the American circuit and whether their absence will leave a significant void in the coming years…

‘Out of sight, out of mind’

“It’s been a case of out of sight, out of mind for me,” writes Alex Perry. “I wasn’t watching the steely battle between Jon Rahm and Max Homa at the Genesis Invitational and thinking, ‘Do you know what this needs? Cam Smith in the mix.’ Because it didn’t.

“I miss the showmen. The entertainers. Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau, in particular. But do I miss Lefty as a competitive golfer on the PGA Tour? Not really, the guy was infinitely more interesting last year when he went to LIV Golf – and his form was so bad that if he had been playing in the PGA Tour, he would’ve just been an absolute non-contender in anything.

“DeChambeau’s another headline maker, and it’s never boring when he’s around. But it’s largely a sideshow, and we’ve got plenty of other showmen on the PGA Tour for their golfing ability as well as their personality.

“The player I miss most is Brooks Koepka. When he was in full flow – take that spell when he won all his majors – there aren’t many people in world more entertaining to watch in terms of pure golfing ability.

“I hope the rumours of a return are true.”

‘Koepka wasn’t ready to exchange legacy for money’

“I don’t think Brooks Koepka was ready to leave the PGA Tour behind for a big-money offer from Greg Norman’s new circuit,” writes Matt Chivers.

“He won four majors across three seasons and, despite suffering from injuries to his knee and wrist, he still had much to offer. Koepka featured prominently in the new PGA Tour Netflix series, Full Swing, which shows him at rock bottom in terms of both form and confidence.

“I felt a bit sad watching it, because he won four majors in the space of nothing, and he was so fierce. He had Tiger’s focus when competing on the PGA Tour.

“And I do not believe for a minute that he is ready to exchange what he could have done on the PGA Tour still just for money.

“There’s no way, in my opinion, he thinks he’s made the right decision. There’s no way he doesn’t regret it. There’s no way he’s finished because LIV Golf isn’t a retirement home, but it is for players that have exchanged a chance for greatness and legacy for money.

“And I don’t think Koepka was at that stage. Come home, Brooks.”

Which LIV Golf players will you miss seeing on the PGA Tour? Tweet us and let us know!

Want more?

Alex and Matt chat about this in more depth on the latest episode of The Slam podcast. Listen in the player below or on your preferred podcast platform.

Matt Chivers

Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.

Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.

Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.

Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spent time with some of the biggest names in the sport.

Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.

What’s in Matt’s bag: Cobra LTDx LS driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, TaylorMade P7MC irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.