{
  "$type": "site.standard.document",
  "bskyPostRef": {
    "cid": "bafyreiea6df5j2xnr4u7ggg7po2bwnzaeospangrj7mxznz54x4mezabpi",
    "uri": "at://did:plc:oznbnvgr7dmvddiyvr7dih52/app.bsky.feed.post/3mj37tvdnwiu2"
  },
  "coverImage": {
    "$type": "blob",
    "ref": {
      "$link": "bafkreidlt6mmlb7on2ordzze7l2fuhyqjisct36ozicgeucwegvfyt7upe"
    },
    "mimeType": "image/jpeg",
    "size": 62807
  },
  "path": "/sport/golf/tom-watson-slams-pga-tour-liv",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-09T15:00:13.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "Lewis Hamilton bombshell with F1 icon 'likely' to retire at end of the season",
    "Officer skivers invited to work from cricket ground as decision explained",
    "Golf star kicked out of Masters after breaking strict rule",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nTom Watson has launched a scathing attack on the PGA Tour's decision to reverse its permanent ban on players who joined the Saudi-backed LIV Golf series, following Brooks Koepka's return to American golf.\n\nThe legendary golfer, who claimed eight major titles during his career, believes the Tour should have stood firm on its original position.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nKoepka, a five-time major champion and the highest-profile defector to the breakaway circuit, stunned the sport in December by terminating his LIV contract with twelve months still remaining.\n\nThe 35-year-old's announcement that he would resume competing full-time in the United States prompted officials to amend their regulations.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTo facilitate his comeback, the Tour required Koepka to make a charitable contribution of $5million (£3.75million) and stripped him of eligibility for equity bonuses through to 2030.\n\nDespite these financial penalties, numerous observers within the sport considered the terms overly generous given the significant damage caused by his original departure to the Saudi-funded league.\n\nWatson has made his position unambiguous.\n\nHe argued that he would not have permitted Koepka's readmission under any circumstances.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nHe said: \"The Tour made a decision to renege on what they promised when the players left for LIV.\n\n\"They felt that the compensation that he’s paid is good enough.\n\n\"I thought the LIV players, when they left, they were supposed to be banned for life.\n\n\"If I was commissioner, that’s what I would do.\"\n\n### LATEST SPORT NEWS\n\n\n\n\n  * Lewis Hamilton bombshell with F1 icon 'likely' to retire at end of the season\n  * Officer skivers invited to work from cricket ground as decision explained\n  * Golf star kicked out of Masters after breaking strict rule\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe golf star added: \"I’d say if you’re finished with your contract with LIV Golf and you want to play the PGA Tour again you must play the (second tier) Korn Ferry Tour for a year to qualify for it. They saw it differently.\n\n\"When the players left they violated the number one rule that we really had out here, which is to protect the sponsors. Sponsors need players. They need the names to be able to promote their tournaments.\n\n\"If the players play wherever they want to play without a conflicting event rule, where you had to seek the permission of the PGA Tour to play in a tournament opposite of a PGA Tour tournament, the sponsors would be hurt by that.\n\n\"When the players left for LIV I think it was basically over. They chose to go for the money, which is fine, but to return to the tour, I thought, was a non-starter, but apparently it’s not.”\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe split between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf represents the biggest fracture in professional golf in decades.\n\nThe divide was driven by a battle over money, tradition, and control.\n\nBack in Launched in 2022, LIV Golf disrupted the long-dominant PGA Tour by offering massive guaranteed payouts.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Golf legend slams PGA Tour for broken promise to ban LIV defectors for life"
}