Brooks Koepka has left LIV Golf and unsurprisingly, Brandel Chamblee was one of the first big names in the industry to react to the news.
Brandel Chamblee has been an outspoken critic of Brooks Koepka and LIV Golf in general over the past few years.
Koepka was first rumored to be leaving LIV Golf at the beginning of December.
Now Koepka’s exit from LIV has been confirmed and he has a return to the PGA Tour in his sights.
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However, that won’t happen overnight and he may well have to pay heavy fines and bide his time before a return to golf’s biggest stage can be facilitated.
Chamblee recently said that if Koepka wanted a PGA Tour return he would need to serve some kind of suspension after he left LIV.
Perhaps that is what will happen. The American could, of course, play on the DP World Tour in 2026 if he chooses to do so.
Perhaps that will be the best course of action for him until he is allowed to make his comeback on the PGA Tour.
Brandel Chamblee reacts as Brooks Koepka leaves LIV Golf
Koepka’s exit from LIV did not come as a surprise as he was clearly unhappy on the Saudi-backed golf league last season.
However, it must have been a hammer-blow for the LIV Golf hierarchy, who are struggling to attract star names to their tour right now.
Chamblee took to his official X account on Tuesday night and offered his thoughts on the news that Koepka had left LIV Golf.
He said: “Time has elevated the PGA Tour for what it is, the most competitive, legitimate and profitable tour in the world.
“Time has exposed the LIV tour for what it is, an ephemeral, flamboyant make-believe tour that can neither further the professional game nor the careers of the players who sacrificed their principles for profit in playing for the Saudis.
“My guess is those who have a path back will seek it with their hat in their hands, trying to hide the money in their pockets … The PGA Tour should make it difficult but doable for these players for the betterment of the PGA Tour and to the detriment of the LIV Tour.“
Chamblee has made a great point there.
The PGA Tour need to make it clear what a pathway back for LIV golfers actually looks like for one reason only – the betterment of the Tour.
There must be consequences, of course there must. But if the PGA Tour make it too hard for Koepka to return, it may put off the likes of Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau from doing the same thing in the future.
Brandel Chamblee suggests how Brooks Koepka can return to the PGA Tour
Chamblee has made it very clear in the past that if LIV players want to return to the PGA Tour, it cannot be sanction free.
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And he echoed that sentiment in response to Koepka’s exit from LIV on Tuesday.
He said: “With all due respect, Brooks shouldn’t receive special treatment.
“His defection, amenable as it was, no doubt led to the legitimizing of LIV, which no doubt led to the defection of Rahm…. to some degree, likely greater, it hurt the Tour and so he should pay an appropriate price to return, be it time, or fines, or both.“
Koepka will most likely have to pay fines and serve at least a one-year suspension before he is allowed to return to the PGA Tour.
Whether those who remained loyal to the Tour will deem that as acceptable remains to be seen, though.
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