Brooks Koepka’s PGA Tour return isn’t just big news, it’s stirring up plenty of debate among fans and fellow pros.
Brooks Koepka is back on the PGA Tour in 2026 after leaving LIV Golf late last year, and his return is already proving divisive.
Under a new “Returning Member Program”, the five-time major winner qualified thanks to his 2023 PGA Championship triumph and will tee it up at the Farmers Insurance Open before heading to Phoenix.
For fans who felt the LIV exodus fractured the game, this move is anything but straightforward.
Koepka’s comeback comes at a cost – he’s forfeiting FedEx Cup bonus money, giving up equity in the Tour’s Player Equity Program for five years, and making a $5 million charitable donation. Even so, some critics argue the penalties don’t go far enough.
Many loyal PGA Tour players stayed through the turbulence, and now they’re watching a former defector walk back into full-field events like The Players and the majors. It’s a sore point for those who turned down guaranteed LIV money to keep the Tour afloat.
The Tour insists no one loses a spot, with expanded fields to accommodate returning players. But signature events remain a sticking point, Koepka will need to qualify for those, and that’s where the tension could really surface.
“I’ve got a lot of work to do with some of the players. There’s definitely guys who are happy, and definitely guys who will be angry,” Koepka told AP.
“It’s a harsh punishment financially. I understand exactly why the tour did that – it’s meant to hurt. But it hurt a lot of people. If anyone is upset, I need to rebuild those relationships.”