Laurie Canter could become the first former LIV golfer to play on the PGA Tour after a strong start at the Irish Open, but it remains uncertain whether he will be welcomed on tour.
Kante was one of the founding players of LIV Golf when it first launched in 2022 and played for Cleeks until losing his place in the 2023 squad.
He continued as a reserve player for Cleeks, competing in the first two LIV events of the year, but later returned to the DP World Tour.
After LIV Golf helped Kante settle his fine with the DP World Tour, reportedly amounting to £725,000 (nearly $1 million), Kante was allowed to return to the European Tour, where he had played before joining LIV.
The 34-year-old Briton immediately seized the opportunity, winning the European Open in June and soaring up the DP World Tour's Race to Dubai rankings.
The top 10 players on the DP World Tour season standings who have not yet qualified for the tour will receive PGA Tour cards for the following season.
Kanter, currently 16th in the Race to Dubai standings, improved his chances of a top-10 finish at this week's Irish Open after shooting 69 and 68 to tie for second, one shot behind leader Matteo Manassero.
@LaurieCanter makes three straight birdies 👌 #AmgenIrishOpen pic.twitter.com/My3tGoOi8uSeptember 13, 2024
A strong finish to the week will boost Kanter’s ranking prospects as he currently sits just one spot behind 10 players in the PGA Tour standings.
However, even if Kanter manages to snag one of the top 10 finishes, it remains uncertain whether the PGA Tour will welcome him next season, as the path for former LIV players to enter the American Tour is unclear.
Kanter told Golfweek in June that he had been notified by the PGA Tour that, although he is not a member (and therefore not suspended), he may not be allowed to immediately play on tour next year if he qualifies for a card and may be subject to a suspension from his last LIV tournament.
“I have to serve a year from the last LIV event I played in,” he told Golfweek. “That would be a year after this year’s LIV Las Vegas event (Super Bowl weekend in February).”
“I think it’s ridiculous,” he added. “I’ve never played on the PGA Tour.”
Laurie Canter poses with the 2024 European Open trophy.
(Image source: Getty Images)
But Kanter remains optimistic about his PGA Tour prospects and is ready to make history next year.
“That would be great, wouldn't it? Playing on the PGA Tour is something I'd love to do in the future,” he told Golfweek in June.
“It’s great to be back on the DP World Tour and competing full-time and I’m grateful that I can do this. I’m lucky in that respect and I’ll just have to keep working hard for the rest of the year to finish as high as possible on the list.”
The PGA Tour remains in talks with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which backs LIV Golf, about a potential merger between the two rival tours.
But relations between LIV Golf and the PGA and DP World Tours appear to be improving, and several LIV players will tee off on the European Tour this year.