The PGA Tour is currently navigating uncharted waters with Brooks Koepka becoming the first big name to seek a return after leaving LIV Golf.
There has been speculation for weeks about what the future holds for Brooks Koepka. Of course, the 35-year-old decided to leave LIV Golf ahead of the final year of his contract back in December.
The PGA Tour has now announced that Koepka will make his return before the end of the month, with the five-time major champion’s first event being the Farmers Insurance Open.
Ben Griffin reacts as the PGA Tour launches the Returning Member Program
Koepka’s decision has prompted Brian Rolapp to launch the Returning Member Program. Those who have won The Players Championship or a major since the start of the 2022 season have the opportunity to come back to the PGA Tour before February 2nd.
Of those still on LIV, that only applies to Cameron Smith, Jon Rahm, and Bryson DeChambeau.
And speaking to Golf Channel ahead of this week’s Sony Open in Hawaii, Ben Griffin insisted that he is in favour of those players having this opportunity.
“The reason I play professional golf is honestly, at this point in my career, is really to compete against the best players. I know for me, I’m excited about it. I think it’s a great move by Brian to allow this opportunity and to give him an option to come back and pay some sort of consequence and compete against us,” he said.
“I think there’s probably an alignment with me and a lot of other players out here that really want to compete against the best players. I definitely think Brooks Koepka is one of those guys, especially based on his resume. I’m looking forward to it.
“I’m looking forward to welcoming Brooks. I haven’t got to have any sort of relationship with him yet, but I’m all for it.”
What unhappy PGA Tour players will have to realise as Brooks Koepka prepares to make his return
Understandably, not everyone on tour will be as pleased about Koepka coming back. Clearly, there was a lot of damage done when a host of names decided to leave the PGA Tour back in 2022.
While much of that animosity has disappeared, there is likely to be a lingering bitterness among a handful of players.
But Griffin believes that those at Ponte Vedra have definitely made the right decision.
“In terms of the guys who aren’t sure about Brooks coming or not, or maybe aren’t happy about it, everyone’s going to have their opinions. I think it’s what’s best for the future of golf,” he added.
“Rory’s talked a lot about it, a lot of other players talk about how great the majors are, having the best players all together. And that’s what the PGA Tour wants to have, they want to have the best players compete against each other every single week and they obviously believe that Brooks Koepka’s one of those.
“Obviously, his resume proves that and I think it’s going to be good for the PGA Tour moving forward. I think most guys are going to realise that.”
It remains to be seen if this decision proves to be vindicated. However, it certainly appears that the PGA Tour have made the right move.
Even if Koepka is the only player to take up the offer, it is still a statement from the PGA Tour.
It also shows the large majority of LIV Golf players that they have got significant work to do if they ever want to find themselves presented with a similar pathway.
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