By leaving LIV Golf, Brooks Koepka dealt a major blow to the Saudi-backed league.
Brooks Koepka is back on the PGA Tour for 2026 after the five-time major winner called it quits on his tenure with LIV Golf. He became the first major name to jump ship in a move that threatens the league’s very existence.
The PGA Tour offered Koepka a deal that requires him to pay $5 million to charity and to forgo sponsor invites to signature events for the next five years. That same deal was offered to Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, and Cameron Smith as the tour looks to deal a fatal blow to LIV.
By leaving, Koepka has cast a shadow over LIV’s future. But so far its players have been gracious towards the American. Does two-time Masters winner Bubba Watson share the same sentiments?
Bubba Watson’s true feelings on Brooks Koepka leaving LIV Golf
When Koepka and co left the PGA Tour for LIV, it sparked rage from players. Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods publicly slammed Koepka, and they weren’t alone.
But LIV Golf emphasizes players’ freedom of choice, so if its players targeted Koepka with the same anger, it would have been incredibly hypocritical. Instead, Rahm, DeChambeau, and Phil Mickelson wished Koepka the best and supported his decision.
As did Watson, who was asked by The Mirror for his reaction to the Koepka news. Watson responded, “The league’s in a great spot. One person’s not going to dictate what the league’s doing.
Is this the end of LIV Golf?
“The beauty is, though, now he gets to spend more time with his family. That’s what he wants. And so that’s good.
“It’s great for him as a friend. I hope he has a great time, and it’s great that he’s still playing professional golf. LIV has always been about pathways to play other tours, and so it’s great.”
It seems that LIV players are all on the same page. LIV told Koepka he could leave the tour, as he never looked truly happy to be there from the moment he signed. The consensus is that this isn’t a major loss for LIV, as the tour will now allocate all its resources to retaining DeChambeau and Rahm for 2027 and beyond.
Bubba Watson names his key goal for 2026
Watson signed with LIV as a 12-time winner on the PGA Tour and a two-time major championship winner. But he hasn’t been able to replicate that level of success with his Range Goats team.
He came close at LIV UK, finishing second and receiving a compliment from NBA superstar LeBron James in the process, but Watson hasn’t yet won an individual event.
What’s the biggest reason you don’t watch LIV Golf?
He said that he wants to put that right in 2026: “Well, I want to win on LIV. I haven’t lifted an individual trophy on LIV or a team trophy. I’ve lifted a team trophy, but not a championship.
“I would love to lift a championship trophy for a team on LIV. That would be another notch on the belt.”
At least with Koepka leaving and no big names added to the tour this offseason, there’s slightly less opposition standing in his way!
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