Laurie Canter becomes the first former LIV golfer to earn a PGA Tour card for the 2026 season. After a successful stint on the DP World Tour, Canter’s journey takes an unexpected turn as he navigates the politics of professional golf’s Cold War. From receiving Tiffany cufflinks at the Players Championship to contending for titles, this is the story of Canter’s unique path to the PGA Tour.
Follow his rise from a founding member of Cleeks GC on LIV Golf to his suspension from the PGA Tour, and eventually, his comeback. Learn how Canter’s perseverance and talent led him to become a full-time PGA Tour player, making history in the process.
In a stunning turn of events, a former LIIV golfer has shattered expectations by becoming the first to earn a coveted PGA Tour card. But here’s where it gets controversial. Lorie Caner, once a founding member of LIIV Golf’s Clicks GC, has now secured full PGA Tour status for the 2026 season, marking a seismic shift in the ongoing rivalry between the two tours. This development raises a bold question. Is the divide between LIIV and the PGA Tour beginning to blur? Or is this just a one-off exception? Back in March, Caner’s debut at the Players Championship felt like a symbolic olive branch, or perhaps a tease. PGA Tour Commissioner J. Monahan even gifted him the traditional Tiffany cuff links, a gesture that seemed to hint at a Thor in the icy relationship between the tours. Fast forward eight months and Caner’s journey has taken an even more dramatic turn. By finishing among the top 10 non-exempt players in the race to Dubai, his punched his ticket to the PGA Tour, a prize that would have been unthinkable just 3 years ago when he was a full-time LIV competitor. And this is the part most people miss. Caner’s path to this moment wasn’t just unconventional, it was downright unpredictable. On June 9th, 2022, he teed off as a founding member of LIIV Golf, only to find himself caught in the crossfire of golf’s Cold War. Minutes after his opening shots, Monahan issued a memo suspending all LIIV competitors from PGA Tour events. For Caner, this meant a year-long exile from the tour he now calls home. He spent 2022 and part of 2023 with LIIV, earning a comfortable $5.6 million across 20 events. But his time there was short-lived. By early 2024, he was replaced by Liv’s rising star Anthony Kim, leaving Caner at a career crossroads. With limited options, Caner returned to the DP World Tour, where he rediscovered his form in spectacular fashion. His wins at the 2024 European Open and the 2025 Bahrain Championship catapulted him into the players championship field, setting the stage for his PGA Tour redemption. Despite missing the cut at TPC Sorrass, Caner’s resilience paid off. His roller coaster season culminated in a strong finish at the DP World Tour Championship, securing one of the 10 PGA Tour cards up for grabs. Here’s the kicker. Caner’s success isn’t just a personal triumph. It’s a potential gamecher for the golf world. His journey challenges the narrative that li golfers are permanently exiled from the PGA Tour. But it also sparks debate. Does Caner’s achievement signal a softening stance from the PGA Tour? Or is it merely an outlier in an otherwise rigid system? In his own words, Caner described his path as not orthodox during his players championship debut. “It’s just how it worked for me with the opportunities that were in front of me,” he said. Now, as he prepares to join the PGA Tour full-time, the golf community is left to wonder, could story pave the way for others, or will he remain a unique exception? What do you think? Is Caner’s PGA Tour card a sign of changing times or just a one-time anomaly? Share your thoughts in the comments. This is a conversation that’s sure to spark debate.
