Brooks Koepka returns to the PGA Tour after three years on the LIV Golf Tour. The major champion was welcomed back with open arms from legend Tiger Woods, who praised the move for fans and the integrity of the game.
The emergence of the Saudi-back LIV Golf Tour three years ago splintered the ranks in professional golf. They paid enormous guaranteed money to some of the biggest names in the game, but the tour has never made an inroads with fans.
The first splinter with LIV Golf came this week, when Brooks Koepka — a five-time major champion — left LIV to return to the PGA Tour. He's being welcomed back with open arms, but his return also comes with some serious financial constraints for Koepka, who was deemed as a traitor — along with the others.
But now he's back. And for the biggest name in golf — the 50-year-old Tiger Woods — it's a great thing.
"It's incredible for all the fans," Woods told ESPN on Tuesday night. "The fan initiative program that we did last year, what they wanted, they want to see the best play against the best. And for Brooks to want to come back, a year early, and he was able to do that.
"There's some punitive damages there, but it's a meritocracy; that's what makes our game so great," he said. "(Koepka is) going to play full-field events, and he has the ability to earn his way up to signature events. If he's good, he's good. If he plays great, he plays great. If he wins tournaments, he wins tournaments. There's no reason why we should hold him back."
The PGA Tour opened the door for Koepka and others this week when they announced the new Returning Member Program. They offered Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith a path to return as players who have won a major or the Players Championship since 2022 (Koepka won the 2023 PGA Championship). Players must choose to do so by Feb. 2, and if they do, it's under certain conditions and with severe financial penalties.
All three said Tuesday they would remain with LIV.
The PGA Tour season starts this season with the Sony Open in Hawaill. Koepka is scheduled to return at the Farmers Insurance Open on Jan. 29 and is also expected to play in the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale the following week.
Koepka, a Florida State product, has always been very popular with golf fans. He's going to get a great reception when he returns.