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The PGA Tour made it clear early on that any defectors would be suspended indefinitely, though it appears negotiations are underway for LIV players to return to the PGA Tour in some manner in the future.

Many weren’t initially surprised when a few golfers late in their careers, and a few whose relationship with the PGA Tour appeared icy at times, made the jump to LIV. Names like Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Graeme McDowell, and Pat Perez all headed to LIV early on.

But with LIV now in its third season, big names in the game have joined. Major championship winners Cam Smith, Dustin Johnson, Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Brooks Koepka have all joined the Saudi PIF-funded LIV league and received hundreds of millions of guaranteed dollars.

With LIV having gained momentum and the PGA Tour increasing purses and doing their part to financially incentivize players that have remained loyal, there remains a noticeable rift between players at the professional level.

As such, opinions about LIV’s emergence are strong in the Central Oregon golf community.

“I wasn’t a fan of LIV from the start, especially where the money was coming from,� said Bend’s PAR X Golf owner and PGA Professional, Andy Heinly, alluding to Saudi Arabia’s controversial record on human rights. “While LIV has brought attention to the battle for professional golf supremacy, I’m not sure LIV has been good for the game or its growth.�

Eric Duea, Bend Golf Club member and ex-golf industry professional has a more spirited take.

“LIV has done absolutely nothing for the growth of the game,� Duea said. “Their ratings are horrible. I don’t know how anyone could make the case that LIV is growing the game given their dismal viewership numbers.�

Duea remains equally fervent in how his views of big-name players have changed since jumping to LIV.

“It’s understandable wanting to cash in a lottery ticket, which is what the LIV players are doing,� Duea said. “But Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka, Cam Smith, and Jon Rahm already had a lottery ticket on the PGA Tour. Their betrayal is a spit in the face to all the volunteers that make PGA Tour events possible and support local charities every week, and to corporate sponsors that invest in facilitating huge charitable output despite futile marketing returns.�

Speaking to his views on LIV in general, Heinly added that “I really do not like watching the LIV tournaments. The team thing is not appealing at all to me. The broadcast sound and constant background music are distracting. Even the announcers I once enjoyed listening to seem to have gone in a different direction. And with all that’s going on with the leaderboard, the whole thing feels like a carnival.�

Heinly and Duea agree that a cooperative arrangement between LIV and the PGA Tour seems inevitable, and will likely come sooner than later.

However, Duea said that no matter what the future arrangement looks like, “the bigger question is what’s in store for all our treasured sports traditions? They’re all vulnerable to corruption of PIF-backed investments.�

Though opinions on LIV and the state of professional golf remain complex and varied, there’s agreement that growing the game remains the top priority.

“Every time I’ve been to Top Golf, it’s been packed,� Heinly said. “People having fun who probably have never played or are just discovering what hitting a little white ball at a target is all about. … This is good for the game of golf.�

No one seems to have a crystal ball as to what exactly the future holds for professional golf. Some are convinced that LIV is here to stay while others insist that the upstart league has no staying power. Regardless of what happens, one thing seems certain: The game’s best players will continue to showcase their talents for all golf enthusiasts no matter where they play.