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Thursday marked a historic day for the PGA Tour, as Brooks Koepka’s return was made official.
After spending more than four years with LIV Golf, the five-time major winner announced earlier this month that he would return to the Tour and play in the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines on Thursday.
Koepka cited more family time as the key factor in his decision to terminate his contract with the Saudi-backed league early. Ironically, that was the main reason people defected to LIV, but Koepka’s lawyer and advisor, Bryan Freedman, provided some context in a recent interview with Pak Gazette Digital.
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Brooks Koepka reacts after making a birdie on the 17th hole during the second round of the 125th U.S. Open on June 13, 2025, in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
“Brooks has felt over the years that the travel was so intense and international that it kept him away from his family, and I think as time went on, he longed to spend more time with his family and be closer to the United States,” Freedman said. LIV has traveled to Australia, Singapore and other places around the world.
There have long been rumors that Koepka had buyer’s remorse, and there have been times over the past year when he has remained fairly quiet about his future at LIV.
“I don’t know if Brooks really made the decision that he wanted to get out until he made that decision, right? It had very little to do with golf and a lot to do with family,” Freedman said. “Maybe all athletes are like that, right? Happy life, happy home. You can excel as an athlete at your best. That’s the key, making sure he’s happy and comfortable.”
Despite the divorce between Koepka and LIV, Freedman said that “everyone was respectful in the process and everyone was attentive to the needs of each party.”
Brooks Koepka plays his shot from the first tee during the final round of the US Open on June 15, 2025. (Charles LeClaire/Image Images)
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“Brooks and I worked together with other people on the team and people at LIV to try to come up with a structure that worked for everyone,” Freedman said. “And I think for Brooks to get the desired outcome, Brooks has nothing but respect for LIV, it was a respectful process, and I think everyone saw the benefit of Brooks being able to be happy and do what he wanted to do, which was be closer to home, closer to his son, closer to his wife. He’s been through some personal things and I really wanted to address it from the point of view of a human being.”
Freedman also praised the PGA Tour for welcoming Koepka with semi-open arms.
“I think the reaction was really positive. It’s great. The PGA has been wonderful, they welcomed him. He certainly has restrictions and he will respect them. But I think they’ve been incredible in welcoming him,” Freedman said. “I think he’s really excited. I think he’s excited to make peace with the players and do the best he can to just be a golfer among golfers, like a worker among workers, and really go in there and be humble and walk with the humility and grace that Brooks walks with.”
Koepka seems happy to be back on the PGA Tour, but Freedman doesn’t think he regrets playing on LIV.
Brooks Koepka poses after winning the 2019 PGA Championship at the Bethpage Black Course on May 19, 2019 in Farmingdale, New York. (Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“I don’t think he regrets going to LIV at all. I think if anything, everyone wishes they got along better, right?” Freeman said. “That there was a certain capacity where people really had to play well together in the sandbox, and that this was a situation that didn’t pose as many problems for people. I think if there are any regrets, it’s probably that.”
