Koepka to make PGA Tour return in January

by · BBC Sport
Brooks Koepka returns to the PGA Tour after four years awayGetty Images

The PGA Tour has opened the door to the return of major winners Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Cam Smith from LIV Golf after accepting Brooks Koepka back on to the American circuit.

Five-time major champion Koepka will make his comeback at the end of January under a new returning member programme, following his departure from the Saudi Arabian-backed series.

The 35-year-old, who has agreed to make a $5m (£3.7m) charitable donation as part of his return, will also forego any payment from the FedExCup Bonus scheme during the 2026 season and will be ineligible for the Tour's player equity programme between 2026-2030, which could amount to between $50-85m.

That estimate, which the PGA Tour believes to be one of the "largest financial repercussions in professional sports history", is based on "potential earnings depending on his competitive performance and the growth of the Tour".

The player equity programme sees 213 PGA Tour players sharing various amounts from $1.3bn in equity grants.

American Koepka controversially quit the PGA Tour to join LIV in 2022 and won five events over four seasons.

In December, he announced that he was leaving the lucrative breakaway league despite reportedly having one year left on his contract and he recently reapplied for his PGA Tour membership.

"When I was a child, I always dreamed about competing on the PGA Tour, and I am just as excited to announce that I am returning," said Koepka.

"I believe in where the PGA Tour is headed with new leadership, new investors and an equity program that gives players a meaningful ownership stake.

"I also understand that there are financial penalties associated with this decision, and I accept those."

Koepka's desire to be reinstated appeared to have provided a huge dilemma for the PGA Tour, with rules dictating that he would not be eligible to play on it again until August, a year after his last LIV appearance.

However, he will now line up at the Farmers Insurance Open, which is being played at Torrey Pines in California between 29 January - 1 February, after being offered an earlier route back on to the PGA Tour.

Only players who have been away from the PGA Tour for at least two years and have won The Players Championship or a major between 2022-25 are eligible under the terms of the newly announced initiative.

That opens the door for Rahm (2023 Masters), DeChambeau (2024 US Open) and Smith (2022 Open Championship), to return from LIV - however, the PGA Tour statement said that avenue would close on 2 February.

Six-time major winner Phil Mickelson would be ineligible to return under those parameters given he won the US PGA Championship in 2021.

In a letter to fans, PGA Tour chief executive Brian Rolapp outlined that programme would be only open for the 2026 campaign and was in "response to a unique set of circumstances".

"This is a one-time, defined window and does not set a precedent for future situations," said Rolapp.

"Once the door closes, there is no promise that this path will be available again."

Following Rolapp's comments, LIV Golf released a statement in which it said it "championed an open ecosystem and freedom, for all".

"LIV Golf's vision remains unchanged - to grow the game of golf globally," it continued.

"And as that vision gains momentum across the broader golf landscape, the capacity to deliver on it continues to strengthen by expanding pathways and opportunity beyond any single institution or interest.

"As the world's golf league, LIV Golf continues to offer the best professional golfers the most competitive, challenging, and lucrative environments in which to pursue greatness on a global scale."

Koepka has already committed to play in the Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale held on 5-8 February.

Returning PGA Tour members will be expected to participate in a minimum of 15 co-sponsored and approved tournaments in 2026.

A 'potentially huge development' for PGA Tour

By
Iain Carter
Golf correspondent

Brian Rolapp has wasted no time seeking to capitalise on Koepka's LIV departure.

It is a bold move and he has been crystal clear in his desire to bring back LIV's biggest talents by offering this return with no suspension time.

This is a potentially huge development and LIV will be desperate to hang on to Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith. The breakaway tour's future could depend on them staying.

It would be hard to see LIV remaining viable if their marquee stars no longer have faith in the project. Rolapp knows this, hence this alpha play by the PGA Tour boss.

All three would face financial penalties for leaving early and like Koepka they would not benefit from equity shares in PGA Tour enterprises for five years.

But they have already banked big money and returning to a deeper competitive pool and routinely bigger tournaments may be a tempting prospect. Rahm has not been the major force of old since his move to LIV and Smith's form has nosedived.

Rahm would also secure his Ryder Cup future by taking this offer, but unravelling LIV team contracts could be a fraught, expensive and litigious process.

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