LIV Golfer Thomas Pieters Vows Never to Return to PGA Tour Amid Funding Crisis

Midway through the 2026 season, LIV Golf faces major financial challenges after the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund announced it will stop backing the league and its contracts at season's end. That funding helped lure stars like Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson and Jon Rahm from the PGA Tour and stage fewer events in international spots.

CEO Scott O'Neil voiced public confidence that the season would continue as planned despite rumors. Days later, a scheduled event in Louisiana was canceled. LIV now must find new investors to survive as a PGA rival.

The uncertainty has sparked talk about players' futures. Questions swirl over whether the PGA Tour might offer a penalty program like the one Brooks Koepka navigated on his return or if players like Patrick Reed must requalify.

Thomas Pieters, a seven-time pro winner mostly on the European Tour, has no interest in returning to the PGA Tour no matter what. In an interview with Dan Rappaport for the "Dan on Golf" show, Pieters said, "I’m definitely never going back to the PGA Tour. I’ve never liked that life. And that’s not me having a go at the PGA Tour, it’s not for me. I tried it and I just wasn’t happy out there."

"If it (LIV) goes away, I’ll probably try and play some on the European Tour or I don’t know. I really don’t know," he added. "I’m not too fussed about it at this point because I feel like I still have a duty to focus on these next six, seven tournaments on LIV and then we’ll see. They’re obviously trying to get it together next year. I think you know more than I do at this point, so we’ll see."

Pieters dismissed rumors that players missed payments around the Mexico City event. "We got paid, or we are getting paid," he said. First-quarter payments arrived a week late for some, early for others. He joked, "I’m not sure all these guys check their bank accounts every two seconds."

Players hear little internally beyond public statements, Pieters said. "Not much. I think whatever comes out officially from LIV is what we’re getting half a day before it goes out. I know Scott is telling us that he’s obviously going to a broader market and trying to fund this for next year. I guess it’s a massive challenge, but we just have to wait and see."

Pieters confirmed he is not worried about LIV's future. He plans to enjoy the bigger paydays while they last, knowing he will leave the game eventually. LIV's lighter schedule offered key advantages over the PGA Tour's weekly grind, giving players more rest and family time. Pieters agrees.