It would be fascinating to know what the majority of LIV Golf players really think of Brooks Koepka leaving and making an almost immediate return to the PGA Tour.
Just one month ago, the golfing world was waiting for confirmation that Brooks Koepka would be leaving LIV Golf. At that stage, there had been reports that the 35-year-old may not stick around for the final year of his contract.
How will Brooks Koepka perform during the 2026 PGA Tour season?
Could he really win this year?
It was subsequently announced that Koepka was indeed leaving LIV. And on Monday, it was revealed that he will be making his comeback on the PGA Tour before the end of January.
Anthony Kim reacts as Brooks Koepka completes his return to the PGA Tour
It is a controversial move from Brian Rolapp given the bad blood that emerged following LIV Golf’s formation.
Koepka was not someone who took shots at the PGA Tour. Nevertheless, there will be some frustration among a handful of PGA Tour members that he has seemingly been fast tracked back into the fold.
But one person who has defended the decision made on Koepka’s future is Anthony Kim.
Kim – who earned his spot on LIV for 2026 at the weekend – insisted that Koepka has done more than enough to earn what appears to be preferential treatment.
What Brooks Koepka had to agree to before securing his PGA Tour card for 2026
Of course, Koepka has not been able to return to the PGA Tour without paying a penalty. Firstly, he had to negotiate a deal with LIV to get out of his contract one year early.
But he has also agreed that he will not be eligible for the PGA Tour equity program for the next five years. Meanwhile, he will make a $5 million donation to charity.
Who do you think will win the Sony Open in Hawaii this week?
J.J. Spaun, Keegan Bradley and Jordan Spieth are involved in a strong field at Waialae
Koepka will also receive no bonus should he manage to qualify for the FedEx Cup playoffs this season.
He will have to try and get there without receiving a sponsor’s invite to a signature event. Koepka will have to qualify if he hopes to tee it up in the biggest events of the PGA Tour season.
A lot of players will appreciate the lengths that Koepka has been prepared to go to in his push to regain a PGA Tour card.
It will now be very interesting to see if the likes of Cameron Smith, Jon Rahm, and Bryson DeChambeau follow his lead in the coming weeks.
Receive exclusive golf news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
