Hudson Swafford, a former LIV Golf player, confirmed that he will not be able to return to the PGA Tour until 2027 due to a suspension stemming from his participation in the rival league, according to Bob Harig of Sports Illustrated. This suspension spans five years, beginning from when he initially joined LIV Golf in 2022, effectively barring his comeback during this period.
Details on the Length and Reasoning Behind the Suspension
Swafford explained he believes the PGA Tour is penalizing him with a year-long suspension for each of the five tournaments he played in 2022 without receiving a conflicting-events release before resigning his Tour membership. He also suggested that the 2027 date is connected to other LIV Golf players’ contract timelines.
He noted,
“I know they’re basing that on a couple people’s contracts being up after the ’26 season. So then they can kind of change rules in favor of everybody coming back.”
—Hudson Swafford
Uncertainty Ahead for LIV Golf Players and the PGA Tour
Swafford discussed the difficulties LIV players face regarding their status with the PGA Tour. While some with no prior Tour status face only a one-year suspension before returning, his own five-year penalty creates greater uncertainty. He also questioned the future landscape of the PGA Tour post-suspension, expressing concern about what the Tour will look like in 2027.
He said,
“I know some guys who didn’t have any status on the PGA Tour, it’s a hard one-year [suspension], not PGA Tour-sanctioned events, but then you can come back and play. But problem is if I come in and talk to them, it’s like, ‘O.K., I can come back and play in ’27, but what does ’27 on the PGA Tour really look like?’”
—Hudson Swafford
Implications for the PGA Tour and LIV Golf Relationship
This extended suspension highlights the ongoing challenges LIV Golf participants face when attempting to return to the PGA Tour, emphasizing the strained relationship between the two organizations. The linkage of suspensions to contract expirations signals potential shifts in the future but, for now, players like Swafford remain sidelined until the current restrictions lift in 2027.