The PGA Tour Set to Lose Another Current Major Champion to LIV Golf

The PGA Tour is on the brink of losing yet another current Major Champion if rumors are true, as Wyndham Clark is nearing a deal with LIV Golf.

The current U.S. Open Champion is reportedly in deep talks with LIV Golf and is close to landing a deal with the rival Tour. Reports suggest an announcement regarding Clark’s departure is somewhat imminent, and could be announced soon.

#LIVGolf Legion XIII Ongoing Negotiations:

Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII is finalizing their roster as the signing of one of the game’s top amateur players, Caleb Suratt. Additionally, he will be adding a player from the promotions event.

This leaves one spot, which will likely be… pic.twitter.com/f87aBRN27C

— LIV Golf Updates (@LIVGolfUpdates) January 15, 2024

The rumors were first reported by @LIVGolfUpdates and @FlushingIt on X. There is definitely some credibility to these rumors as these two accounts were some of the first to report that Jon Rahm was leaving for LIV several weeks before he made the move official.

It would be the second current Major Championship holder to depart the Tour and go to LIV, as Jon Rahm made the move in late 2023. However, if Clark does leave, it would mean that three of the four current Major Champions would be at LIV, as Brooks Koepka, who won the PGA Championship last year at Oak Hill, was the first LIV Golfer to win a Major.

Clark is also expected to join Rahm’s team, which is rumored to be filled with Caleb Suratt, one of golf’s top-ranked amateurs, as well as Kieran Vincent, who plays on the Asian Tour.

With LIV seemingly having its choice of golfers from the PGA Tour, apart from a few who have continued to pledge their loyalty, it makes negotiations more complicated. The Tour will have to give up more control with every player that leaves, and LIV will have more leverage. Meanwhile, it also makes the current divisive nature of professional golf potentially more prevalent as things move forward. 

Negotiations are continuing between the PGA Tour and LIV and a deadline was set for the end of 2023, but was extended to Master’s weekend in April.

Cover Image via Fox Business