Cameron Young opened the Cadillac Championship with a spectacular first round, pulling ahead by a single stroke while the leading figures of the PGA Tour weighed in on the recent announcement that LIV Golf will lose its Saudi Arabian backing. Young posted an impressive eight‑under‑par 64 as the Tour returned to the iconic Blue Monster layout at Trump National Doral in Miami for the first time since 2016.
His score placed him a full shot ahead of fellow Americans Jordan Spieth and Alex Smalley, with Canadian Nick Taylor trailing another stroke in fourth place. In fifth place, Colombia’s Nico Echavarria stood alone at five under, while an American trio consisting of Andrew Putnam, Brian Harman and Gary Woodland each posted a six‑under round, sitting just a shot behind him. Young’s 97 feet of putts ranked as the fifth‑most of the day, and his overall putting statistics were the second‑best across the field, as he recorded eight birdies without a single bogey. "I feel like I made a billion feet of putts, which I think works most places," Young said with a grin.
"It was one of those days when every mistake I made wasn’t punished as harshly as it could have been, and every time my ball got near the hole it seemed to want to drop in." World number one Scottie Scheffler, who had won the Players Championship a few weeks earlier, fell back to a seven‑stroke deficit after a disappointing back‑nine that added two strokes to his total, leaving him with a 71 for the round. "I would have liked to have been a little sharper today," Scheffler admitted. "I got off to a good start, but I kind of struggled after that.
I just hope to be a little sharper tomorrow." Englishman Tommy Fleetwood posted a two‑under 70, while his compatriot Alex Fitzpatrick, who earned his PGA Tour card by winning the Zurich Classic of New Orleans alongside his brother Matt, finished at even par. Ireland’s Shane Lowry also carded an even‑par round, and former Ryder Cup captain Justin Rose recorded a two‑over 74 as he debuted a new set of irons produced by McLaren.
The tournament began in Florida at roughly the same moment that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) confirmed it will cease funding LIV Golf after the 2026 season. The PIF explained that the "substantial investment required is no longer consistent" with its evolving investment strategy, leaving LIV Golf to search for new long‑term financial partners to secure its future. With the future of the rival circuit in limbo, the spotlight quickly shifted to whether its marquee players—major champions Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and others—might be able to rejoin the PGA Tour. Brooks Koepka, another major winner who had previously jumped to LIV, elected to enter the PGA Tour’s Returning Members Programme at the start of 2026, a pathway designed to give top‑level players a chance to come back.
Former Masters champion Patrick Reed, who did not qualify for that programme, is serving a mandatory one‑year waiting period after his final LIV appearance before he can compete on the PGA Tour again. When asked about the potential process for other LIV players seeking a return, former world number one Jordan Spieth explained his uncertainty. "I’m not sure if it should be the same for everyone. I know olive branches were given out a couple of months ago.
Brooks took them up on it, so I’m not sure what would now change. This doesn’t necessarily mean LIV isn’t going to move on either. There are too many unknowns for me to have a good gauge on what will happen." Spieth continued, "If there’s a system for Brooks and a system for Patrick Reed, does that stay the same for guys in the same category as those two coming back, or does it change now? Does it change for guys who sued and dropped their membership?
There’s just a lot of different things that happened over the last four years. I’m kind of glad I’m not in that room, and I trust the guys that are in that room to make the right decision." 2023 Open champion Brian Harman, who also featured in the early leaderboard, voiced his belief that a route back to the PGA Tour should exist for former LIV players, but he cautioned that some sort of structured approach would be necessary. "I think the fans want everyone to be playing together and time heals all wounds," Harman said. "There’s still some sentiment out here, especially with all the lawsuit stuff, that’s going to be tough to get past.
We play with those guys in the majors, so yes, I think there should be a path back. I’m not smart enough to tell you exactly what that is—that’s for the officials." He added, "There should be something to ease the bad blood and resentment.
I haven’t heard as much of it in the last couple of years as we did at the start of the lawsuit, but a little reconciliation would probably be necessary." The conversation around LIV’s funding cut and the possible reintegration of its players has sparked broader debate within the golf community. Analysts note that the PIF’s withdrawal could force LIV Golf to restructure its business model, potentially shifting focus toward sponsorships, media rights deals, or partnerships with other international investors. Some speculate that the organization may explore a merger with existing tours, while others think it could reinvent itself as a series of high‑profile invitational events. For the PGA Tour, the prospect of welcoming back former LIV members presents both opportunities and challenges.
On the one hand, the return of high‑profile names could boost television ratings, ticket sales, and sponsor interest. On the other, the Tour must navigate the legal and contractual complexities that arose from the previous defections, including lingering lawsuits and the terms of the Returning Members Programme.
Fans watching the Cadillac Championship on Sky Sports were treated to a blend of competitive golf and off‑course intrigue. The tournament’s second round is set to begin at 4 p.m. on Friday, with live coverage available on Sky Sports Golf and streaming options for those without a contract.
Meanwhile, golfers and enthusiasts across the UK and Ireland can book tee times at more than 1,700 courses through the Sky Sports partnership, ensuring that the excitement of the game extends beyond the televised events. As the season progresses, all eyes will remain on how the PGA Tour and LIV Golf navigate this transitional period. Whether former LIV stars will receive a clear pathway back, how the Tour will manage the legal fallout, and what new financial partners might emerge for LIV are questions that will shape the professional golf landscape for years to come.