Scottie Scheffler: LIV Golfers Should Have 'Caveat' If They Return to PGA Tour

Scottie Scheffler isn't against welcoming LIV Golf-affiliated stars back on the PGA Tour but doesn't believe a reunion should be unconditional.

"I think there's a different level of player that left," he said Wednesday in an interview with Golf Channel. "You had some guys that left our tour and then sued our tour, that wasn't really in great taste; and then you had some other guys that just left and they wanted to do something different, and everybody made their decision, and I have no bad blood toward the guys that left.

"But a path toward coming back, it wouldn't be a very popular decision, I think, if they just came back like nothing ever happened. They did kind of leave and—they left our tour, that's just part of it. There should be a pathway back for them, but they definitely shouldn't be able to come back without any sort of contribution to the tour."

Scheffler didn't specify what he had in mind but said "there should be some sort of caveat to them getting back on our tour."

Not that long ago, it seemed like LIV Golf was gaining the upper hand on the PGA Tour in their ongoing conflict.

Jon Rahm signed with LIV in December, and Rory McIlroy began softening his tone toward the breakaway series. Losing Rahm was an obvious blow for the tour, and McIlroy's more nuanced mindset might have actually been more concerning since he became the face of the tour following the steady talent exodus.

Now, the PGA Tour may have turned the tables after reaching a deal with Strategic Sports Group that will bring in up to $3 billion. The investment offers the players the chance to gain equity stakes in the new PGA Tour Enterprises.

Should the proposed merger with LIV Golf fall apart completely, the tour might emerge much stronger than it had been and could present a more attractive financial package to its top stars.

That raises the possibility of Rahm, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and others coming to believe the grass isn't greener with LIV after all. Rahm already admitted to missing some of the showpiece events from the tour.

Their peers may not be eager to roll out the red carpet, though.

Justin Thomas echoed the general sentiments of Scheffler when it came to the idea of LIV golfers rejoining the PGA Tour.

"I would say that there's a handful of players on LIV that would make the tour a better place, but I'm definitely not in the agreement that they should just be able to come back that easily," he said.

Even with things between the two sides thawing a bit, battle lines continue to be drawn.