“They'd have to go to Q School” - Johnson Wagner raises concern over LIV Golfers’ future
American professional golfer Johnson Wagner has shared his concerns over the future of LIV golfers. The Saudi Circuit players were banned from competing on the PGA Tour after they joined LIV Golf.
Recently, Johnson Wagner appeared on The Smylie Show, where he spoke about the future of LIV golfers in the golf industry. He reflected on the difficulties players would face if the Saudi Circuit disappeared. Wagner stated that it would create more problems for LIV players in professional events, as they might have to go through Q-School again to earn their Tour card.
Speaking of the LIV golfers, Johnson Wagner said:
"If LIV goes away, like what happens to a Cameron Tringale, a Harold Varner...Hudson Swafford? I mean, they have no status when they come back and they'd have to go to Q School. Someone said something to me that made so much sense that they all come back and have no status on the PGA tour...
"You can get seven sponsor exemptions as a non-member and make them work their way back to status that way, which made sense. But a lot of them seem very happy over there, to your point. And I just don't know...if PIF invests in the PGA Tour, do they continue to throw money at a product that's not great?" (44:59-45:33)
The LIV series recently concluded with an event in Nashville, where Tyrrell Hatton, who joined LIV Golf earlier this year, emerged victorious.
Although LIV golfers are banned from competing in PGA Tour events, they can still compete in Major events. In fact, this year, LIV golfer Bryson DeChambeau won the 2024 US Open.
Additionally, the PGA Tour has been in talks with the Public Investment Fund (PIF), which is the backbone of LIV Golf, about a negotiated deal that might be finalized soon.
Amidst all this, Caffeine TV, which streamed LIV Golf's first round on their platform, recently canceled their deal due to a lack of profitability.
Johnson Wagner talks about Signature PGA events
The PGA Tour has introduced no-cut, limited-field events similar to those of LIV Golf. Eight such Signature PGA Tour events were held in 2024, with the final one completed last week, where Scottie Scheffler took home the trophy.
Johnson Wagner opened up about Signature events in his interview on The Smylie Show. He suggested that these events could have a field of around 90 players and should introduce a cutline, with the top 45 qualifying for the final two rounds.
Speaking about the Signature events, Wagner said:
"I think 120 is too much ... you could say 100 - it's a nice clean number. But I think ... just take the model of the Masters for Signature Events ... have 90-something guys, cut it to 45.
"And because it's really doing damage to the Monday pro-am, it's doing damage to the Wednesday pro-am, it's doing damage to the tournament being able to have hospitality all day for four straight days and make money, to ultimately give back to local charities - so I think the harm that they're causing is unseen this year."(48:00-49:00)
Johnson Wagner works as an analyst for Golf Channel, which he joined in 2022. He has won three PGA Tour events in his career.