The DP World Tour says it has received a “high volume” of enquiries from LIV Golf players interested in returning to the established circuit, as the breakaway league seeks bankruptcy protection and plans a possible new version of its competition.

LIV Golf filed for bankruptcy protection in the United States on Tuesday as it attempts to restructure for what it describes as a “new era” next year. Court documents put the league’s assets at between $100m and $500m, while its liabilities are estimated at between $500m and $1bn.

The documents also show that LIV owes at least $45m to 14 current and former players.

Players including Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm may now be able to leave LIV rather than continue under contracts for the proposed LIV 2.0. However, returning to the PGA Tour or DP World Tour could prove difficult after years of conflict between the breakaway league and golf’s traditional tours.

The DP World Tour said it was examining how players could be accommodated.

“Given the high volume of inbound interest and enquiries we have received in recent weeks, we are exploring the terms on which we are willing to accommodate players, provided they are free from third-party contractual restrictions and are willing to abide by our membership regulations,” a spokesperson said.

The tour added that its tournament committee had approved the process and that further enquiries were expected.

No clear route back to the PGA Tour

LIV golfers are automatically banned from the PGA Tour for a year. A special returning-player programme enabled Brooks Koepka to return to the US circuit after leaving LIV, but the PGA Tour’s chief executive, Brian Rolapp, said last month there were “no current plans” to run the programme again.

Koepka returned after making a $5m charitable donation and giving up payment from the FedExCup Bonus scheme. He is also ineligible for the PGA Tour’s player equity programme until 2030.

Patrick Reed took a different route after leaving LIV. He earned a place on next year’s PGA Tour through the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai top 10.

The DP World Tour could therefore provide a pathway for other LIV players. Its leading 10 players currently gain access to PGA Tour membership, although the European circuit is still considering how to treat LIV golfers next season.

The tour said players with exempt status would be able to apply, but it would need to assess the structure of any new LIV before making final decisions. Players without exempt status are understood not to be able to rejoin while contracted to LIV.

What could LIV 2.0 look like?

Plans for LIV 2.0 reportedly involve a reduced prize fund and a more sustainable business model. Events could be worth about £7m, below leading PGA Tour tournaments but above most DP World Tour competitions.

The proposed format would expand fields from 57 to 75 players, introduce Monday qualifying and add halfway cuts while retaining the league’s team structure.

It remains unclear how many current players would stay. Rahm said he was prepared to fulfil his LIV 1.0 contract, but did not indicate a commitment to the proposed new iteration. The league faces the challenge of assembling a strong enough roster to attract investment and make LIV 2.0 viable.

The DP World Tour previously reached an arrangement allowing some players, including Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton, to compete in LIV events without disciplinary action. That agreement is thought unlikely to be offered next year.

The future structure of the PGA Tour may also affect potential returnees. From 2028, the tour plans a two-tier format, but it remains unclear how many leading DP World Tour players from 2027 will qualify for its upper-tier Championship series.

LIV was founded in 2021 and staged its first season the following year. Its emergence led to major changes in professional golf, including increased prize funds on the PGA Tour and a new for-profit structure backed by a $1.5bn investment from Strategic Sports Group.

While the traditional tours have withstood the breakaway league’s challenge, the future of LIV’s players and its proposed new competition remains uncertain.