PGA Tour reinstates another former LIV pro (but not the one you think)

Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith at LIV Golf’s 2026 Season Promotion Captains Press Conference Tuesday turned down permanent offer to rejoin PGA Tour (at least for now).

While that silenced speculation about whether one of those star players would follow Brooks Koepka returns to the tournament through the new Returning Member Programanother former LIV pro made the jump, albeit from a very different route.

That player is Pat Perez.

Pat Perez reinstated to PGA Tour… but can’t play

Perez, who turns 50 in March, has three PGA Tour victories during a long career. His most recent win came at the 2017 CIMB Classic.

But in mid-2022, Perez gave up the tour for LIV Golf. He joined Dustin Johnson’s 4Aces team, with whom he won a tag team title (and a substantial bonus) in 2022. Perez struggled in 2024 and lost his LIV spot. But only as a player. In 2025, he acted as a course reporter at LIV events.

Tuesday, the PGA Tour confirmed for him Sports Illustrated that Perez was reinstated as a member of the PGA Tour, although he is not eligible to play in “affiliated” tournaments at this time.

“At his request, Pat Perez was reinstated as a member, but is ineligible to participate in PGA Tour-affiliated tournaments at this time,” the Tour’s statement said.

In the eyes of the PGA Tour, Perez’s duties on TV LIV were no different than playing on LIV, so Perez faces fines and a suspension from Tour events. And because he did not win a major from 2022-2025, as Koepka did, he is not eligible for the Returning Member Program.

“Players who do not qualify for the returning member program may only be reinstated in accordance with the non-member policy and any applicable disciplinary process.”

In other words, Perez, who has plans to play the PGA Tour Champions after his 50th birthday, won’t be able to play right away like Koepka. Unfortunately, we don’t know what specific punishments or game restrictions Perez will face. That’s because the Tour’s statement on Perez’s return also stated, “The PGA Tour does not comment on disciplinary matters.”

This, of course, came just one day after PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp commented extensively on Koepka’s disciplinary actions.

Bryson DeChambeau declines PGA Tour offer… for now

The big question after Koepka’s PGA Tour return was announced was whether any other LIV star players would take up the Returning Member Program offer. Offer available to DeChambeau, Rahm and Smith only.

DeChambeau is far and away the biggest star playing at LIV Golf. The source of his immense popularity extends beyond his two US Open wins and viral YouTube hijinks. Love him or hate him, golf fans love to watch DeChambeau play.

If he were to return to the Tour, it would be a devastating blow to LIV. DeChambeau had a little fun with things earlier Tuesday when he posted a photo on Instagram of himself standing next to an Exit sign with a cryptic message that read, “What would you do?”

But when asked about it at his LIV press conference, DeChambeau confirmed he would be staying at LIV Golf this season, though it wasn’t exactly a resounding endorsement of a long LIV future.

“I mean, look, I’m under contract until 2026, so I’m excited about this year,” he said Tuesday.

The window to apply to the Returning Player Program ends on February 2, 2026 and is intended to be a one-time offer. We’ll see if that changes when DeChambeau’s contract expires next year.