PGA Tour players have reportedly told their LIV Golf counterparts that any return to the established circuit should come through qualifying school, according to a Golfweek report. The sentiment reflects ongoing tensions between the two golf circuits since LIV Golf's launch in 2022.
The "go back to Q-school" message underscores the PGA Tour's stance that players who left for the Saudi-backed league should not receive special treatment if they seek to return. Qualifying school, known as Q-school, is the traditional pathway for professionals to earn PGA Tour status through competitive tournaments.
LIV Golf has attracted numerous major champions and top-ranked players with lucrative guaranteed contracts, creating a fracture in professional golf. While framework agreements between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and LIV Golf's backers have been discussed, no formal reconciliation has been finalized.
The Q-school requirement would mean LIV players face the same competitive gauntlet as any other professional seeking PGA Tour membership, rather than being granted exemptions based on past achievements or world ranking positions earned while playing a limited LIV schedule.
