Brooks Koepka could be about to make a ground-breaking LIV Golf decision.
It was recently reported that Brooks Koepka was considering leaving LIV Golf, becoming the first LIV superstar to bite the bullet and attempt to return to the PGA Tour.
Koepka’s decision to join LIV in 2022 was one of the most surprising player moves we’ve seen. Even the likes of Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler were blindsided, as the five-time major winner showed no signs of wanting to leave the PGA Tour just days before the announcement.
But after a disappointing 2025 season, which saw Koepka go winless and miss out on Ryder Cup selection, he appears to be walking back that decision, which could make things awkward on the PGA Tour after what McIlroy and Tiger Woods said about him after his move.
What Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods said about Brooks Koepka when he joined LIV Golf
McIlroy was outspoken against any player who joined LIV Golf in 2022, but it seems like Koepka’s move struck a particular nerve.
Speaking at the 2022 Travelers Championship following the decision, he slammed a “duplicitous” Koepka, who previously claimed that he wouldn’t be joining LIV.
McIlroy said, “Am I surprised? Yes, because of what he said previously. I think that’s why I’m surprised at a lot of these guys, because they say one thing and then they do another, and I don’t understand.
“I don’t know if that’s for legal reasons or if they can’t – I have no idea – but it’s pretty duplicitous on their part to say one thing and then do another thing, in public and in private.”
What would the impact of Brooks Koepka leaving LIV Golf be?
Woods said that Koepka and any other player who joined LIV were turning their backs on what made them professional golfers in the first place.
He explained: “I don’t understand it. What is the incentive to practice and earn it in the dirt?’ I disagree with it. I think that what they’ve done is they’ve turned their back on what has allowed them to get to this position.
“But what these players are doing for guaranteed money, what is the incentive to practice?’ What is the incentive to go out there and earn it in the dirt? You’re just getting paid a lot of money up front and playing a few events and playing 54 holes.”
LIV has since changed its format to 72-holes in an attempt to get its players Official World Golf Ranking points, but that’s clearly not enough to keep all of their biggest stars. It seems that in the end, Woods was right.
Why Tiger Woods was right about Brooks Koepka when he joined LIV Golf
Like many of the top players in the world, Koepka’s performances have suffered since he joined LIV Golf. He was winless in 2025 and hasn’t contended for a major championship in the last two seasons.
That’s something that has been consistent among many of LIV’s stars. Jon Rahm was in the discussion for being the best player on the planet before joining LIV, but since then, he hasn’t won a major, and while Rahm won the LIV individual title last season, he didn’t win a single event.
What is the main reason Brooks Koepka and Jon Rahm have struggled since joining LIV Golf?
Perhaps Woods was right. Playing 54-hole events takes players away from the grind of the PGA Tour. Iron sharpens iron, so when 72-hole major championships come around, PGA Tour players are used to those events in a way that LIV players aren’t.
That could be why Bryson DeChambeau fell apart down the stretch of the 2025 Masters. He was in the final group alongside McIlroy, but a poor performance after 54 holes saw the American tumble down the leaderboard.
That’s a big reason for why Rahm pushed for a 72-hole format on LIV, so perhaps with that change, the biggest stars on the tour can begin to perform again. But Koepka clearly doesn’t think so, as he seeks a route away from the tour after just three seasons.
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