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PGA Tour Player Refutes Rex Hoggard’s Notion of LIV Golfers in The PLAYERS

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PGA Tour Player Refutes Rex Hoggard’s Notion of LIV Golfers in The PLAYERS

More than 18 months after the framework agreement was signed in June 2023, negotiations between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) appear to be nearing a resolution. February 2025 has been particularly eventful, including two meetings with President Donald Trump at the White House.

Amid this surge of developments, various reports have emerged across platforms. One of the most unexpected comes from Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard, who suggests that LIV Golf players could make their return to the PGA Tour as early as next month’s PLAYERS Championship.

“I’ll go one step further,” Hoggard said, according to The Golfing Gazette. “I could say the possibility of next month with The Players Championship looming. I spoke to one LIV player who has actually heard from the PGA Tour about the possibility of showing up at the flagship event,”

However, not everyone believes this will happen immediately. Golf Magic quoted an anonymous PGA Tour player who stated that his stance, along with many of his colleagues, is to take a wait-and-see approach as developments unfold.

“All I’d say is, I don’t think that’s a likely scenario,” the unnamed player said.

During his commentary, Hoggard also weighed in on the potential inclusion of LIV Golf players in next month’s PGA Tour flagship event. A highly respected journalist, Hoggard has covered golf for over 25 years, contributing to major outlets such as Golfweek and Golf Channel.

“Let’s put that into context,” Hoggard said. “The message that sends to fans is that ‘yes, we understand you, we hear you, we know you want the game to be reunited, we know you want to see the best players from both tours playing against each other more often’. That would be a very powerful statement.”

LIV Golf players are currently barred from competing in any PGA Tour-sanctioned events. However, if this restriction were lifted, several of the league’s biggest stars—Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, Tyrrell Hatton, Dustin Johnson, and Cameron Smith—would be eligible for The PLAYERS Championship.

Discussions between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) have intensified in recent months.

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan and PIF Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan have held at least three face-to-face meetings since last October.

Their interactions included a round of golf at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship Pro-Am, a second meeting during the Aramco Team Series Riyadh, and most recently, a high-profile meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House, attended by Tiger Woods and Adam Scott.

Ethan Blake

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Golf

Golfers ‘sickened’ as Dalmuir Golf Course facing closure — for second year

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1 day ago

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February 26, 2025

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Golfers 'sickened' as Dalmuir Golf Course facing closure — for second year

Golfers have voiced their frustration and disappointment over the potential closure of Dalmuir Golf Course, a nearly century-old community staple, just a year after it was saved from being shut down.

Local residents are outraged after learning that West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC) is once again considering closing the course as part of cost-cutting measures. This move comes despite the club surviving a previous round of local authority cuts less than a year ago.

Determined to fight back, Gerry Smith, a regular at the course, has launched a campaign to keep it open. His petition on Change.org has already gathered over 2,500 signatures and has gained support from high-profile athletes, including Ryder Cup Captain Paul McGinley and former professional footballer Martin Hardie.

He said: “This is sickening, we were assured the golf course wouldn’t be touched. The golf course is not being run properly at all. They’re just letting it go as it is.

“As it stands, the council don’t advertise it. They don’t give any decent incentives for people to use the facilities.

“In fact, there are very few facilities there now because they’ve done away with the café, bowling and tennis courts.”

He added: “Every single year this closure comes up with the council finances and they say that it’s costing them money. The reason it’s costing money is because they’re not actually trying to make an effort to make money.”

West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC) is set to decide on March 5 whether to raise membership fees, reduce the course to 12 holes (down from 18), or shut it down completely.

The council claims it spends over £100,000 annually to subsidize the course while memberships continue to decline. With over 180 members paying up to £300 per year, WDC argues that it effectively subsidizes £805 per golfer.

Last year, a strong campaign to save Dalmuir Golf Course saw over 7,500 people sign a petition, including support from footballer John McGinn. This year, Gerry Smith’s petition has already gained traction, with signatures from local supporters, Ryder Cup Captain Paul McGinley, and former footballer Martin Hardie.

Hardie, a former Partick Thistle player, posted on X: “The fight goes on to save Dalmuir Golf Course from closure by West Dunbartonshire Council.

“A course I learned how to play golf at as a boy and up until last summer.

“Some extra signatures would be more than welcome to hopefully save my local course from the threat of being closed again.

“Hopefully get enough people who love sports, not just golf in their local community to sign this to save my local golf course Dalmuir.”

Professional caddie and honorary member of the club Craig Connelly wrote: “Really don’t know what to say.

“I drive/walk past the facility they have there in the park every day and it is an utter disgrace that West Dunbartonshire Council have left it to rot away. Two bowling greens are gone. Two tennis courts are gone. A cafe that has lay derelict for a year.

“Calling on all of my followers, please sign this petition to keep this wee gem open and available for all to play.”

A council spokesperson said: “This is one of a number of options to be considered by councillors as part of work to close a budget gap of at least £7million.

“No decision can or will be taken until the council budget meeting on March 5.”

Ethan Blake

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