Former LIV Golfer RETURNS to PGA TOUR’s Biggest Event – Here’s How

Former LIV Golfer Laurie Canter is set to return to the PGA TOUR through a dramatic playoff defeat that came at the DP World Tour’s South African Open on Sunday, a crazy story line considering the current negotiations between the TOUR and Saudi PIF to reunite men’s golf.

Canter will be the first player to return to a PGA TOUR event after competing on LIV Golf’s circuit previously.

He moved into the Top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) with his second-place finish on Sunday in South Africa, and will officially qualify for The PLAYERS Championship, the PGA TOUR’s biggest event.

Laurie Canter moves into the Top 50 in the world and secures his spot at @THEPLAYERS ✅#InvestecSAOpen pic.twitter.com/PztgdjDmvW

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) March 3, 2025

The fine print shows that Canter technically qualifies to play in PGA TOUR events despite being on LIV Golf because he did not play in any LIV events in the past year. PGA TOUR rules state that any player who played a LIV Golf tournament is ineligible from competing in a sanctioned event for a year past their last appearance in a LIV event.

Sports Illustrated clarified the PGA TOUR’s ruling on LIV Golfers and their disqualifying factors.

Canter played in every LIV event during the inaugural 2022 season, but then was a reserve. His last event on LIV was in early 2024, so his year grace period has passed.

Cover Image via The Times