Cha-ching! Welcome back, Brooksie

PGA Tour creates unique 'returning member' status for Koepka and similar LIV stars

2023 PGA champion Brooks Koepka is welcomed straight back to PGA Tour (Keyur Khamar/PGA Tour via Getty Images)

Well, that was fast.

Less than three weeks after announcing he was breaking up “amicably” with LIV Golf, with the blessing of the controversial circuit, Brooks Koepka is officially back on the PGA Tour.

Koepka is already scheduled to make his first tour start in nearly four years at Torrey Pines later this month, followed the week after by the WM Phoenix Open — an event he’s won twice.

This reconciliation clearly did not happen overnight and without some behind-the-scenes discussions. Only last week, Koepka reapplied for tour membership and three days later he’s back?

Nope, the PGA Tour Policy Board and new CEO Brian Rolapp clearly had been plotting a strategy to bring Koepka back to the tour, devising a scheme that effectively punished him to a strong degree, left open the door for other stars to return but doesn’t necessarily make it easy to go to LIV and come back, if so inclined.

Called the “Returning Member Program,” it was put in place to deal specifically with Koepka, who as a major champion in the past four years would still have status on the PGA Tour. As part of the announcement on Monday, the PGA Tour said that the same pathways would be available to recent major winners Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Cam Smith — with the stipulation they decide by Feb. 2. The limited-time offer might not be the same later.

Rahm, DeChambeau and Smith are not expected to take the tour up on the offer before the 2026 LIV season starts in Riyadh the first weekend in February, but just putting it out there plants the seed that, potentially, they could be welcomed back with similar caveats in the future.

Rolapp said in his statement that this is a one-time offer based on a “unique situation” that presented itself and does not establish a future precedent. What does appear to be a precedent as a deterrent is that a player has to be gone at least two years. So, someone who leaves the PGA Tour now is likely not to come back anytime soon.

“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,” Rolapp wrote in a memo to PGA Tour members.

Depending on your point of view, Koepka’s penalties are either severe or weak. For someone who was believed to get upwards of $100 million just for signing with LIV Golf in 2022 — and who easily made at least another $40 million in prize money and bonuses as a five-time winner on LIV — a $5 million fine to charity should not hurt too much.

Nor should losing a player equity stake over the next five years on the PGA Tour —which Rolapp valued at potentially north of $50 million, even though such a projection is an estimate on what is paper money at the moment. The tour has to earn those equity funds for the players and so far there’s been no indication how that will occur.

Koepka also won’t be able to reap any FedEx Cup bonus money in 2026, but he’s able to keep what he earns in prize money — including at the FedEx Cup playoffs, where if eligible, the purses are $20 million for the first two playoff events and $40 million in official money for the Tour Championship.

“The penalty is significant but I understand why they’ve done it. It hurts but it’s supposed to,” Koepka told Golfweek on Monday. “I’ve got a lot of work to do with the players and I want to do that one-on-one. I want to have those conversations, but behind closed doors.”

In a statement released by the tour, Koepka added: “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 there are financial penalties associated with this decision, and I accept those.”

In a nod to any concerns from the membership at large, Koepka won’t be gifted sponsor invites into the signature events this season, but he can earn his way in just just everybody else. If he qualifies to get in any signature events or the limited field playoffs, he will be added to the field and nobody will lose a spot. The tour may even add alternate players to make sure there’s an even number for groupings.

In fact, that will be the same at Torrey Pines and Phoenix … and the Players Championship. Koepka will be added to those fields and he won’t take a place from another competitor.

Undoubtedly, after all the saber-rattling of the last four years, there will be those upset with his immediate return — especially from players who remained loyal to the tour and didn’t accept lucrative LIV offers. And yet, those players in line for lucrative offers would all but certainly be in line for equity riches, if they pan out. They’ve been playing for increased purses, including eight annual signature events with $20 million purses. You can bet Scottie Scheffler, who has banked more than nine figures the last three years in prize money and bonuses, isn’t too upset.

In theory, Koepka — as a marquee name and five-time major champion — strengthens the PGA Tour while his departure weakens LIV Golf.

And he’s not taking a spot from anyone — even regarding status for 2027 based on season-long performance — which should be celebrated.

Where can Koepka play?

All four major championships were already on his dance card. The Players Championship and any regular full-field event are now fair game. He is only eligible for the signature events for which he qualifies via the AON 5/10 criteria for getting into those events. And if he is top 70 in FedEx Cup points, he will qualify for the first playoff event as a 71st player added to the field.

In order to retain his membership, Koepka is required to play 15 events, including the majors. With the Players, he’d need 10 more starts to satisfy conditions for unfettered membership in 2027. If he doesn’t qualifying for any signature events, he might end up visiting some places he’s not played before.

Where else? After Torrey Pines and Phoenix, his hometown Cognizant Classic at PGA National seems a good bet. So does the Valspar Championship, where he played in 2022 a week ahead of making his last official PGA Tour start at the WGC Match Play. The Valspar immediately follows the Players and is three weeks prior to the Masters.

If Koepka — who currently ranks No. 244 in the Official World Golf Ranking — is not in other signature events he’s a good bet to play the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, RBC Canadian Open and the Genesis Scottish Open the week before the Open Championship.

That gets him to 12 events, so there is room for a few more either after the Open or somewhere else along the road. He’s welcome to play in opposite events like Myrtle Beach (played the same week ahead of the PGA Championship as the signature Truist Championship at Quail Hollow) or the Zurich Championship team event the week after the RBC Heritage.

Whatever schedule he fashions is good for the PGA Tour. Brooks is back — and the 2026 season is off to an interesting start.