The Golf Podcast Presented by Golficity

LIV Golf has finally gotten the Official World Golf Rankings they’ve been waiting for, but there’s a major catch that has many players and fans frustrated.

In this week’s episode of The Golf Podcast we’ll break down the biggest wrinkle in golf’s power struggle right now: LIV Golf finally receiving Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points — and the immediate backlash that followed.

After LIV revamped its schedule and format to meet ranking expectations, points are now being awarded right away, but only to the top 10 finishers (and ties) in individual stroke play. That hard cutoff has sparked frustration from players like Jon Rahm, who said it “doesn’t seem fair,” and from LIV CEO Scott O’Neil, who argued the policy leaves the vast majority of the field with zero points.

We’ll explain why OWGR categorized LIV as a “small-field” situation, why no-cut events elsewhere still earn points deeper down the leaderboard, and what this means for players chasing majors, Ryder Cup points, and long-term career opportunities.

To put it into perspective, we compare real recent points totals from the PGA TOUR (Waste Management Phoenix Open), LIV’s season opener in Riyadh, and the DP World Tour event Patrick Reed won, plus how LIV’s winner points stack up against a PGA TOUR alternate-field event like the Puerto Rico Open. Then we open it up to you: fair framework, or flop?

 

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Titleist is committed to ensuring that every golf ball delivers superior quality and consistency.  From ball to ball, dozen to dozen we should expect our golf ball to perform exactly the same way, shot after shot. That’s why Titleist owns the design, the technology and the manufacturing to make sure consistency spot on every time. They even conduct all the testing and quality checks to make sure nothing slips through the cracks.  Titleist is the #1 ball for every player and the #1 ball in golf.  Choose the best for your game and find out more at Titleist.com.

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Is Bryson DeChambeau quietly setting up his exit from LIV Golf—or playing the smartest leverage game professional golf has ever seen?

In this week’s episode of The Golf Podcast, we dive into the latest controversy surrounding Bryson DeChambeau and his increasingly non-committal comments about the future of LIV Golf.

With reports swirling about a potential $500 million contract extension, we break down whether Bryson is genuinely frustrated with LIV’s shift to 72-hole events—or strategically applying pressure as negotiations heat up. We analyze his recent quotes in full, compare his stance to players who have firmly committed to LIV like Jon Rahm, and contrast that with high-profile departures, including Brooks Koepka, who has already begun the process of returning to the PGA Tour.

We’ll also explore how leverage in professional golf appears to be shifting, what LIV’s long-term strategy might be, and why Bryson’s YouTube success and marketability play such a massive role in his value. Finally, we pose this week’s big question: if you were Bryson, would you take a half-billion-dollar LIV deal or bet on a return to the PGA Tour?

 

Listen to This Week’s Show

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Thanks to this Week’s Sponsors

Titleist is committed to ensuring that every golf ball delivers superior quality and consistency.  From ball to ball, dozen to dozen we should expect our golf ball to perform exactly the same way, shot after shot. That’s why Titleist owns the design, the technology and the manufacturing to make sure consistency spot on every time. They even conduct all the testing and quality checks to make sure nothing slips through the cracks.  Titleist is the #1 ball for every player and the #1 ball in golf.  Choose the best for your game and find out more at Titleist.com.

Trust your golf game to FootJoy, the number one Shoe in Golf. Shop now at FootJoy.com.

Thanks for tuning to The Golf Podcast!

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In yet another major twist, Patrick Reed announced today that he’s leaving LIV Golf — and it immediately raises some bigger questions about the league’s future.

In this week’s podcast we react in real time to breaking news as Patrick Reed announces he’s leaving LIV Golf and planning a return to the PGA Tour. We break down how Reed’s situation is very different from Brooks Koepka’s costly path back, explain why Reed won’t face the same penalties, and walk through the full timeline from his LIV exit to when he’s eligible to compete again on the PGA Tour.

The bigger question, though, is what this move means for LIV Golf as a league, especially with multiple high-profile American players now heading back to the PGA Tour while many international stars remain committed to LIV. We also examine Reed’s recent comments praising the PGA Tour, his motivation for returning, and how family, travel, visibility, and brand value may all be playing a role in these decisions.

Plus, we discuss how Patrick Reed might be received by fans and players as he returns to a tour where he once played the villain, and whether the PGA Tour actually benefits from having polarizing personalities back in the spotlight. From exemptions and eligibility to majors, rankings, and long-term implications for both tours, we cover everything you need to know about Patrick Reed leaving LIV Golf and what could come next.

 

Listen to This Week’s Show

Download on iTunes here

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Thanks to this Week’s Sponsors

Titleist is committed to ensuring that every golf ball delivers superior quality and consistency.  From ball to ball, dozen to dozen we should expect our golf ball to perform exactly the same way, shot after shot. That’s why Titleist owns the design, the technology and the manufacturing to make sure consistency spot on every time. They even conduct all the testing and quality checks to make sure nothing slips through the cracks.  Titleist is the #1 ball for every player and the #1 ball in golf.  Choose the best for your game and find out more at Titleist.com.

Trust your golf game to FootJoy, the number one Shoe in Golf. Shop now at FootJoy.com.

Thanks for tuning to The Golf Podcast!

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Brooks Koepka is back on the PGA Tour—and the penalties and deadline in this new returning member policy could reshape the future of LIV Golf.

In this week’s episode of The Golf Podcast we’ll break down the PGA Tour’s brand-new Returning Member Program and ask the big question: is this the beginning of the end for LIV Golf?

With Brooks Koepka returning to the PGA Tour immediately, we unpack the penalties that came with the deal—starting with a reported $5 million charitable donation, five years of ineligibility for the PGA Tour equity program, and even being ineligible for the 2026 FedEx Cup bonus (even if he wins it).

We also explain the program’s eligibility rules—a major (or THE PLAYERS) win since 2022 and at least two years away—which narrows the door to a select few names like Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, and Cam Smith, plus a hard application deadline of February 2.

We react to your poll results, debate the “optics” of players paying a price to come back, and discuss why the PGA Tour structured the policy to protect current members (including minimum event requirements and field considerations).

 

Listen to This Week’s Show

Download on iTunes here

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Thanks to this Week’s Sponsors

Titleist is committed to ensuring that every golf ball delivers superior quality and consistency.  From ball to ball, dozen to dozen we should expect our golf ball to perform exactly the same way, shot after shot. That’s why Titleist owns the design, the technology and the manufacturing to make sure consistency spot on every time. They even conduct all the testing and quality checks to make sure nothing slips through the cracks.  Titleist is the #1 ball for every player and the #1 ball in golf.  Choose the best for your game and find out more at Titleist.com.

Trust your golf game to FootJoy, the number one Shoe in Golf. Shop now at FootJoy.com.

Thanks for tuning to The Golf Podcast!

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After Brooks Koepka’s shocking LIV departure, Rory McIlroy’s harsh comments raise even more questions about the league’s future.

In this week’s episode of The Golf Podcast, we break down the latest shake-up in the world of professional golf as Rory McIlroy’s recent comments on LIV Golf spark fresh debate across the game.

Rory openly discussed welcoming Brooks Koepka back into the TGL and potentially clearing pathways for a return to the PGA Tour, while also questioning whether LIV has truly resonated with fans. Those remarks, combined with Brooks’ decision to leave LIV and sit out the season, have many fans wondering if another major move could be coming next. Specifically, could Bryson DeChambeau follow a similar path when his contract comes up at the end of 2026?

We unpack Rory’s quotes in full, analyze Bryson’s own responses, and discuss whether his success on LIV, YouTube growth, and commercial momentum make a return unlikely—or simply a strategic bargaining position.

On top of that, we dive into the latest update from the Official World Golf Rankings, including renewed discussions around LIV’s application and what recent structural changes could mean for ranking points moving forward. From potential pathways back to the PGA Tour to the broader implications for LIV’s future, there’s a lot to unpack as the new year gets underway.

 

Listen to This Week’s Show

Download on iTunes here

Listen on Spotify here

Thanks to this Week’s Sponsors

Titleist is committed to ensuring that every golf ball delivers superior quality and consistency.  From ball to ball, dozen to dozen we should expect our golf ball to perform exactly the same way, shot after shot. That’s why Titleist owns the design, the technology and the manufacturing to make sure consistency spot on every time. They even conduct all the testing and quality checks to make sure nothing slips through the cracks.  Titleist is the #1 ball for every player and the #1 ball in golf.  Choose the best for your game and find out more at Titleist.com.

Trust your golf game to FootJoy, the number one Shoe in Golf. Shop now at FootJoy.com.

Thanks for tuning to The Golf Podcast!

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