Stephen A Smith blames PGA Tour for LIV Golf saga, moronically says defectors shouldn't face any punishment

OutKick's Jonathan Hutton & Chad Withrow discuss why LIV players should be allowed back on the PGA Tour.

It's not often we hear Stephen A. Smith weigh in on anything golf-related, and after hearing his reaction to the Saudis pulling their funding of LIV Golf, we should all be incredibly thankful for that.

On Thursday, the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) officially announced that it would be cutting ties with LIV at the end of the 2026 season after investing billions into the breakaway circuit. Among the many questions to follow is what it means for the players who left the PGA Tour to join LIV, who will presumably be seeking to jump back on Tour.

PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp has hinted that the path back for defectors will be far from straight and clear. While we are likely months away from knowing any firm details, Smith has an idea of what should be required of players in order for them to return to the Tour: absolutely nothing.

Brian Rolapp, CEO of the PGA Tour, speaks to the media prior to THE PLAYERS Championship 2026 at THE PLAYERS Stadium course at TPC Sawgrass on March 11, 2026 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)

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Smith believes that the only figure to blame in this entire, ridiculous saga is the PGA Tour, therefore, it should welcome back players with wide-open arms.

"If the PGA decides to punish these golfers, we should be all — excuse my language — we should stay in their a-- like white on rice. They should not be punishing anybody. It was their negligence, their abuse, their taking golfers for granted that forced the existence of LIV to begin with," Smith said on Thursday's edition of 'First Take.'

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