NEWNow you can listen to Pak Gazette articles!
Brooks Koepka took the golf world by storm in the late 2010s, winning four majors between 2018 and 2019.
His dominance in the majors made him an instant fan favorite, but after moving to LIV Golf in 2022, fans saw much less of Koepka.
This is because by leaving the PGA Tour for the Saudi-backed league, Koepka was only eligible to play in majors. However, his performance in them in 2023, capped by his third PGA Championship victory, also earned him a nod for the Ryder Cup.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PakGazette.Com
Tiger Woods of the United States tees off on the 13th tee with playing partner Brooks Koepka of the United States during the first round of the 2019 PGA Championship on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park on May 16, 2019 in Farmingdale, New York. (David Cannon/Getty Images)
But amid poor play since then, and after rumors of buyer’s remorse, Koepka left LIV Golf with one year left on his contract to return to the PGA Tour last week.
When talking about Koepka’s return, Tiger Woods said it’s “unbelievable for all the fans.”
“They want to see the best play the best,” Woods told ESPN on Tuesday. “And for Brooks to want to come back, a year earlier, he was able to do it.”
“There are some punitive damages, but it’s a meritocracy. That’s what makes our game so great. He’s going to play full-field events and he has the ability to earn his way to the signature events. If he’s good, he’s good. If he plays great, he plays great. If he wins tournaments, he wins tournaments. There’s no reason we should stop him,” Woods continued.
Koepka opted out of LIV Golf late last month, citing family time as the reason for leaving. Ironically, he will be on the road even more after rejoining the PGA Tour. In fact, Cameron Smith reiterated his commitment to LIV Golf earlier this week, saying it allows him to be home more often.
“As a child, I always dreamed of competing on the @PGATOUR, and today I am equally excited to announce that I will be returning to the PGA TOUR. Being closer to home and spending more time with my family makes this opportunity especially meaningful to me,” Koepka said in his PGA Tour return announcement.
Brooks Koepka during the second round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Quail Hollow. (Images by Aaron Doster-Imagn)
LIV GOLF STARS COMMIT TO REMAIN AFTER BROOKS KOEPKA’S DEPARTURE AND RETURN TO THE PGA TOUR
“I believe in where the PGA TOUR is headed with new leadership, new investors and an equity program that gives players a significant ownership stake. I also understand that there are financial penalties associated with this decision, and I accept them.”
PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp said Koepka’s return sparked the Returning Members Program for those who have left the company and may decide to follow in Koepka’s footsteps.
Rolapp said Koepka agreed to some conditions upon his return to the PGA Tour, including a “five-year loss of potential equity in the PGA Tour’s Player Equity Program, representing one of the largest financial repercussions in the history of professional sports, with estimates that he could lose approximately $50 million to $85 million in potential earnings, depending on his competitive performance and the growth of the Tour,” according to Rolapp. Koepka will also make a $5 million charitable donation to an organization yet to be determined.
Brooks Koepka during a practice round ahead of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St. Andrews, on September 30, 2025, in St Andrews, Scotland. (Ross Parker/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Koepka became the first person to return to the PGA Tour after defecting from LIV Golf.
