Brooks Koepka
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Brooks Back on Tour: Koepka Returns to the PGA

Monday brought the latest development in the PGA Tour versus LIV Tour saga. Following four years on the LIV Tour, five-time major winner Brooks Koepka has been granted permission to return to the PGA Tour with immediate effect.

This news – made possible by the announcement of the PGA’s new Returning Member Program – is likely to receive a mixed reception from existing PGA Tour players and fans. However, Koepka is paying a price for his LIV defection, which, if estimates are correct, could be among the largest financial penalties in professional sports history.

Four Years on the LIV Tour Come to an End

Back in 2022, Koepka became one of the biggest early defectors to LIV Golf. Having previously suggested that joining the new tour would be to “sell out,” Koepka took an alleged nine-figure signing-on fee and jumped ship. Following his first appearance in the LIV Invitational Series, Koepka was immediately suspended by the PGA Tour.

Koepka enjoyed a successful time on the LIV Golf Tour, becoming the first player to win five events and earning $48 million in prize money. Initially signed up for five years, Koepka announced in December 2025 that he and LIV Golf had come to an amicable agreement to end his deal a year early. Only a few weeks later, Koepka applied to have his PGA membership reinstated. That application has now been granted.

Returning Member Program

Koepka has been allowed to rejoin the tour as part of the new Returning Member Program. This program is open to players who have been away from the PGA Tour for at least two years and won either a major or The Players Championship between 2022 and 2025. Koepka’s Returning Member Application was approved by the PGA Tour Enterprises board, whose members include current tour pros.

Why Has Koepka Been Allowed Back?

Critics of the decision to allow Koepka to return will suggest that the 35-year-old has been allowed to have his cake and eat it – picking up a huge LIV payday and returning to the PGA at a time of his choosing. It is easy to understand why some players may feel that way – particularly those who resisted the lure of the LIV money to remain loyal to the PGA.

Brian Rolapp, Chief Executive Officer of the PGA Tour, outlined the reasoning behind the Returning Member Program when stating:

“In evaluating the situation, our objectives were clear: (1) make the PGA Tour stronger, (2) preserve playing opportunities for current members and (3) deliver on fan desire to see the best players in the world back on our Tour, while ensuring Returning Members must accept severe yet appropriate financial consequences.”

$50m+ Punishment

There can be little doubt that the return of Koepka makes the PGA Tour stronger and satisfies the desire of fans to see the best of the best competing against one another. While troubled by injuries in recent years, Koepka has more major wins over the past decade than any other player and remains a huge draw.

Major Years Won
PGA Championship 2018, 2019, 2023
U.S. Open 2017, 2018

Koepka’s return also won’t affect the playing opportunities of existing players. The field size for any event in which Koepka plays will be expanded, with the PGA using alternates to round out the playing groups if required.

Nevertheless, Koepka will be punished for his defection. As part of the conditions of his return, he has agreed to make a $5 million donation to charity. However, that is but a fraction of the potential cost to the former world number one. From 2026 to 2030, Koepka will receive no earnings from the PGA Tour Enterprises player equity program, nor will he be eligible for the FedEx Cup Bonus Program for 2026. He will also not receive a sponsor’s exemption to the $20 million Signature Events tournaments.

When taken together, estimates suggest that the financial penalties handed out to Koepka could amount to between $50m and $85m. Reflecting on his return and the financial punishment, Koepka stated:

“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. It’s a harsh punishment financially. I understand exactly why the tour did that – it’s meant to hurt.”

Which Other LIV Players Could Come Back to the PGA Tour

The Returning Member Program opens the door for other LIV defectors to follow in Koepka’s footsteps and return to the PGA Tour. However, any player wishing to do so will need to be quick. When announcing Koepka’s return, the PGA Tour stated that the Returning Member Program is only available until 2nd February 2026, and there is no guarantee it will return at a future date.

Koepka aside, only three players meet the conditions of having been away from the tour for at least two years and won a major or the Players Championship between 2022 and 2025. Those men are Bryson DeChambeau, Cameron Smith, and Jon Rahm. At the time of writing, none of that trio had applied to have their membership reinstated.

Comeback Begins at Torrey Pines

Brooks Koepka will make his first PGA Tour appearance since 2022 when he tees off in the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines on 29th January 2026. He has also committed to play at the WM Phoenix Open the following week – an event he won in 2015 and 2021.