Scottie Scheffler’s wish of improving competition on PGA Tour just got answeredThe world No. 1 continues to have a neutral stance as he always haveWhile names like Rory McIlroy welcome the returning LIV Golfers, others stand against the move
Over the years, if Scottie Scheffler has commented on LIV Golf featuring some of the top golfers, it was only that he misses playing against them. Of course, while he maintained the PGA Tour still carries top names, the competition for Mr. Inevitable became much simpler. Now, as Patrick Reed and Brooks Koepka return to the PGA Tour, the Texan has cleared his stance.
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“When you look at a lot of the discussions we’ve had and when you look at what a lot of the fans are saying, I think people want the best people playing together again,” Scheffler told the reporters at the presser for the 2026 WM Phoenix Open.
“So when it comes to great players like Brooks or Patrick Reed, Patrick Reed is a major champion, and I think Brooks Koepka has won five majors, so having those guys competing out here is great for the TOUR, great for the fans, and great for our sponsors.”
With the merger talks suspended, Koepka’s comeback had a huge impact on the dynamic between LIV Golf pros and the PGA Tour. There was a belief that Brian Rolapp & Co. were willing to open doors for the players should the opportunity arise.
With that domino falling, others followed. The next big name was Patrick Reed. While anyone outside of the Returning Members Program will have to wait a year to play in the PGA Tour events as members, their reinstatement applications getting a green signal aligns with what Scheffler hopes for the future of golf.
“I think the last few years, there has just been a lot of the noise, and so I think getting those guys back is another step towards us just being able to play golf again. That’s what I’m looking forward to the most.”
The world No. 1 wants to compete with the best in golf regularly once again. Koepka and Reed’s return gives him hope that one day other big names will also follow the same path. Perhaps Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm will also be a part of the PGA Tour in the coming years. And that will only make the Tour more exciting for Scheffler, as he has previously said his wish out loud.
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Scottie Scheffler Wins Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando – 10 Mar 2024 Scottie Scheffler of the United States hits a tee shot on the tenth hole during the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at the Arnold Palmer Bay Hill Golf Course in Orlando. Scheffler won the tournament with a five-shot victory. Orlando United States Copyright: xPaulxHennessyx/xSOPAxImagesx 03102024_PHH_API_01
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“I definitely miss the competition,” said Scheffler in 2025. “They got some pretty good players on their tour. I still think the PGA Tour has by far the best players in the world.
“The depth of our fields and the competition that we have is still hands down the best competition that there is in the game of golf. That’s why I’m still playing on the Tour. I love the competition.”
Scheffler teeing up against Jon Rahm was one of the best visuals on the PGA Tour at one point. At the same time, Bryson DeChambeau’s competition against Rory McIlroy was also something to look forward to. However, everything changed when they left for the PIF-backed league in 2022. But many are now realizing that the legacy vs. money debate was never really one to survive for long.
Many players have accepted and welcomed Koepka, Reed, and more to the American circuit as they know the product will only improve. In fact, even McIlroy, who still feels like a scapegoat, does understand why this decision by the Tour is important to improve the game of golf.
Unfortunately, not everyone holds the same opinion.
Viktor Hovland is not on board with the returning LIV Golfers
Scottie Scheffler may be excited to reunite with his peers on the PGA Tour. And he has a very good reason to be, considering the increase in competition that he will enjoy. But Viktor Hovland doesn’t hold the same opinion.
“I think it just makes the products, the fields better. However, it does kind of put the TOUR in a tricky position now,” Hovland told the reporters. “You’ve said one thing for a long time, and now we’re changing things. What precedent are you setting then to the future players now if I can go to a rival tour, get paid, and now seemingly come back again without the biggest consequences?
“I don’t really have an opinion on that, to be honest. That’s something the TOUR has to figure out. I’m sure there is a lot of people not going to be super happy about that, but at the end of the day, I just want to compete against the best players in the world.”
The Norwegian swinger still seems uncertain about the impact of bringing back Koepka immediately. As he stated, allowing the former Smash GC captain to return months after he has earned millions with the rivals doesn’t sit well with him.
There have been other pros who have followed the same path and are enduring the biggest consequences of waiting through the one-year suspension. So Hovland believes it wasn’t right for the Tour to allow Koepka a quick way in.
Others, like the golf analyst Brandel Chamblee, also argued that letting a defector like Koepka rejoin without facing any consequences would set a bad precedent. Meanwhile, Japanese pro Hideki Matsuyama stands on neutral ground. However, he does wonder why the Tour never spoke about its plans to the players.
The debate has never really stopped since the LIV Golf was founded. No doubt, it’s not ending any time soon either. One thing, however, that everyone can look forward to is getting some extra heated competition on the field as everyone travels to Arizona for the WM Phoenix Open.
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