Brooks Koepka left LIV Golf earlier this week, with a return to the PGA Tour at some point in the future his number one goal.
However, the burning question is: How will the PGA Tour be able to facilitate Brooks Koepka‘s return without upsetting and disheartening those who remained loyal to the Tour?
It has been claimed that the earliest Koepka will be able to rejoin the PGA Tour is in 2027, due to the five-year bans handed out to the players who left to move to LIV Golf in 2022.
As a result, Koepka may well play on the DP World Tour in 2026, in order to keep his game razor sharp.
Is this the end of LIV Golf?
The thing is, the powers that be at the PGA Tour have to make some kind of a stand here. They cannot allow the 35-year-old to simply return to the Tour without consequence.
But what are the options? Koepka is a five-time major champion remember. So surely that has to count for something?
Or does it?
Whatever the PGA Tour decide to do regarding the manner in which they facilitate Koepka’s return could have huge ramifications for professional golf moving forward.
The PGA Tour’s punishment for Brooks Koepka is obvious
There will be Koepka fans who are desperate to see him back playing at the highest level on the PGA Tour as soon as possible.
There will also be staunch PGA Tour supporters who believe that he never should be allowed back.
However, some kind of middle ground will need to be found.
The truth of the matter is that the PGA Tour need to make some kind of statement here. The best solution would be to force Koepka into earning his card again.
Tell him that the only way he will be able to earn his status back on the PGA Tour is by going through Q-School.
The five-time major winner will obviously not be happy with that, but at least it would send out a strong message to any PGA Tour golfer who is thinking about joining LIV.
If Koepka is allowed to return to the PGA Tour consequence-free, what would stop players leaving to join LIV safe in the knowledge that they can just waltz back to the PGA Tour whenever they feel like?
Koepka’s return to the PGA Tour has to be made possible, but very difficult, in order to uphold the Tour’s meritocratic policy.
What Brooks Koepka plans to do in 2026
Firstly, it’s quite obvious that Koepka will not be allowed to immediately return to the PGA Tour in 2026.
The five-time major winner will obviously have to keep his game sharp throughout the 2026 season.
And it has been claimed that Koepka plans on doing that by playing on the DP World Tour.
The American has previously spoken very highly indeed of the DP World Tour, even going as far as saying that he preferred competing over in Europe to America.
How many majors do you think Brooks Koepka will end his career with?
He's currently level with the likes of Rory McIlroy, Seve Ballesteros and Byron Nelson with five
“It’s a fun place to be, a fun place to come back,“ he said.
“It’s always nice to bring those memories back.
“There’s a lot of guys you don’t get to see very often, and you made some great friendships over here when I was playing, and not getting to see them all the time isn’t always fun. But when you come back and see everybody, it makes it feel a little bit more special.”
“I think a lot of them (memories) are just from traveling week-to-week.
“The camaraderie over here is a bit different. I like it more, personally, than I do in the States.
“Everyone’s always laughing, joking. The attitude over here is a little different. The sense of humour over here is a little better … so it’s quite fun.
“My favourite places that I’ve been over here: Crans (Omega European Masters) I think is probably one of the most beautiful places. Prague and Sweden are pretty nice, too.
“I think that’s what makes it so much fun in my career. I really enjoy that aspect of seeing different cultures, being a part of it.
“I try to come over here as much as I can, and I enjoy playing over here. It’s fun.“
It wouldn’t surprise anybody if Koepka played his golf on the DP World Tour in 2026 before making a return to the PGA Tour in 2027.
However, his path back to the PGA Tour certainly shouldn’t be a straightforward one.
Receive exclusive golf news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
