What Brooks Koepka's PGA Tour Reinstatement Means for LIV Golf Defectors

PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp announced on social media that he is reinstating five-time major winner Brooks Koepka. 

Along with reinstating Koepka, the PGA Tour also announced that they will allow other players to return under strict stipulations.

Overall, I think the PGA handled the transition for Koepka as fairly as possible. Brooks is unable to participate in the players' equity program for the next five years, a deal I think he easily takes after his $100 Million+ signing bonus from when he was on the LIV Tour. He also has to donate $5 million to a charity that both sides can agree on. Finally, outside of potential earnings losses from tour championship bonuses, Brooks must also participate in at least 15 events per season.

He will be making significantly less than other players on tour, but I think most people agree that it’s better for golf to have the best players back on tour. That’s also why the PGA is allowing a few other players the opportunity to rejoin the PGA.

Any player with a major or a player's victory from 2022–2025 is eligible to rejoin the tour under the same repercussions as Koepka. That leaves Jon Rahm, Cameron Smith, and Bryson DeChambeau as the only ones able to return. The caveat of winning a major over the last three years feels like a shot at Phil Mickelson, as he has been one of the most vocal players bashing the PGA since the tour's split at the end of 2021. Mickelson conveniently won his final major in 2021.

I would be very shocked if Smith and Rahm do not return to the PGA. Rahm, especially, has seemed quite unhappy since joining LIV, and the tour giving them this lifeline back into main events feels like a no-doubter. DeChambeau, on the other hand, feels like he could stay with the Saudi’s. Between his budding social media presence and the previous problems he had on tour, LIV might be able to keep him with them. Bryson, of course, has all the chips in this negotiation, but if they offer him a massive contract to resign, they might be able to keep one of the few players putting eyes on their events.

I hope all three of these guys are back on tour. Scottie Schefler has quickly become one of the most dominant golfers the sport has ever seen. Having more guys able to compete with him on a night-to-night basis is everything for golf fans. I’m assuming most people are like me and weren’t tuning into LIV events, so potentially adding four former major winners back to the schedule is perfect.

I still feel badly for players who turned down massive paydays from LIV to stay on tour, but this resolution feels like the most punishment they could put on returning players, while also enticing them to actually rejoin the PGA. It’ll be interesting to see if, or when, they will allow other players back on tour. I hope they continue to add players back, as even if it’s unfair, it’s what’s best for the future of golf.