Thomas Detry of Belgium will join LIV Golf for its 2026 season, the Saudi-funded league’s fifth year, as officials boost the total purse to $30 million and receive fresh pledges from Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm that they will not leave.
At a Glance
- Prize money rises from $25 million to $30 million
- Brooks Koepka allowed to return to PGA Tour after $5 million donation
- Detry, ranked 58th in the world, signs with Dustin Johnson’s 4 Aces
- League still awaits decision on Official World Golf Ranking inclusion
The announcement came as LIV concluded a week of season previews ahead of the Feb. 4 opener in Saudi Arabia. CEO Scott O’Neil told reporters he had no issue with Koepka’s departure and stressed that the remaining players remain committed to the league.
Koepka’s Exit and the PGA Tour Path
Koepka, a five-time major champion and former world No. 1, will rejoin the PGA Tour after agreeing to a five-year ban on tour equity and a $5 million charitable contribution. O’Neil declined to reveal any additional financial terms of the split.
“I don’t think this is where he wanted to be,” O’Neil said, adding that he still roots for Koepka’s success.
The tour opened the same return route to only three other LIV players who have captured majors or The Players Championship since 2022:
- DeChambeau
- Rahm
- Cameron Smith
All three publicly confirmed they will stay with LIV.
DeChambeau and Rahm Reaffirm Loyalty
Both players had shown no previous interest in returning to the PGA Tour and reinforced that stance this week.
“Right now I’ve got a contract. I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do at LIV Golf this year,” DeChambeau said.
“I’m not planning on going anywhere,” Rahm echoed.
Prize Money Boost and Team Shake-Ups
O’Neil confirmed the overall purse will climb from $25 million to $30 million, with just over $22 million allocated to individual results and the remainder tied to team performance.
Several roster and branding changes accompany the increase:
New signings:
- Elvis Smylie, 23-year-old Australian PGA Championship winner, joins the Ripper team
- Byeong Hun An, 2009 U.S. Amateur champ, captains the South Korea-based team
Team name changes:
- Iron Heads → Korean Golf Club (Kevin Na departs)
- Stinger GC → Southern Guards (South African roster intact)
- Majesticks keep name but add Union Jack to branding
Detry, who claimed his first PGA Tour title at last year’s Phoenix Open, will play for Dustin Johnson’s 4 Aces. Johnson has signed an extension to remain with LIV.
Ranking Points Still Pending
LIV continues to wait for the Official World Golf Ranking to rule on its application, which has been under review for more than six months. O’Neil hopes for a decision before the season starts.
Former Masters champion and current CBS analyst Trevor Immelman noted in December that one hurdle is LIV’s invitation-based membership model, contrasting with the 24 qualifying tours already integrated into the OWGR system.
LIV’s field has expanded from 48 players in 2022 to 57, including five wild-card spots.
“The intention is to get this done before the season starts. That’s the intention. But hey – I don’t have a vote, ironically enough,” O’Neil said. “Hopefully that news comes through and true, and I’m still going to nominate him for a Nobel Peace Prize if we get this thing done.”
O’Neil Touts Player Commitment
The CEO emphasized the roster’s unity, saying, “I’ve got 57 guys that are running towards the light, and they understand the mission. They understand what’s expected of them, and they jump in and dive in and do it extraordinarily well.”
The 2026 LIV campaign kicks off in Saudi Arabia on February 4, with the league banking on its bigger purses and stable star power to maintain momentum as it vies for world-ranking legitimacy.
