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Brooks Koepka is returning to the PGA Tour this year, and there's a deadline if other prominent LIV Golf members want to take advantage of the quicker-than-expected path he's using to get back there.
The PGA Tour announced on Monday, Jan. 12 that Koepka can participate in the entire 2026 season through its newly established Returning Member Program for golfers "who have been away from the (PGA) Tour for at least two years and have won The Players Championship, Masters Tournament, PGA Championship, U.S. Open or The Open Championship during the 2022-2025 seasons."
It was created in response to Koepka applying for reinstatement to the PGA Tour, as well as research that showed fans wanted to see the best golfers competing together more often. Koepka is eligible for the PGA Tour again through his 2023 PGA Championship win, though the new program also includes a steep financial penalty.
ANALYSIS: What does Brooks Koepka's return to the PGA Tour mean for LIV Golf's future?
Returning players will not receive any payment from the FedExCup bonus program for the 2026 season and will be ineligible to earn equity from the player equity program for the next five years (2026-2030). Koepka could miss out on approximately $50-85 million in potential equity earnings, according to the PGA Tour, depending on his competitive performance and the Tour's growth. He also agreed to make a $5 million charitable contribution to an agreed-upon organization.
Koepka, 35, confirmed on Monday he plans to make his 2026 PGA Tour debut at the Farmers Insurance Open beginning Jan. 29 at Torrey Pines in San Diego. Koepka is also committed to play in the WM Phoenix Open starting on Feb. 5 at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona. It will be his first start in a regular PGA Tour event since the WGC Dell Technologies Match Play in March 2022.
Koepka will still have to play his way into the lucrative signature events on the PGA Tour schedule. He is ineligible for sponsor exemptions into those fields. Other tournament fields will be expanded to accommodate Koepka's presence in order to ensure PGA Tour golfers don't lose a spot this season due to his return.
"The penalty is significant but I understand why they’ve done it. It hurts but it’s supposed to," Koepka told Golfweek. "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."
Koepka announced he was forgoing the final year on his contract with LIV Golf on Dec. 23 and left "amicably," according to LIV Golf CEO Scott O'Neil. Koepka was the first golfer to win a major while playing for LIV Golf at the 2023 PGA Championship.
There are three other LIV Golf members eligible to return to the PGA Tour based on the criteria of the Returning Member Program: Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith. The PGA Tour said those golfers have until Feb. 2 to accept the terms of the program and still be eligible to participate in the 2026 season. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp emphasized, however, that this alternative route won't necessarily exist in the future.
"This is a one-time, defined window and does not set a precedent for future situations. Once the door closes, there is no promise that this path will be available again," Rolapp wrote in a letter to fans. "We will continue to aggressively pursue anything that enhances the fan experience and makes the PGA Tour stronger. This is part of our commitment to fans, who expect the world’s best players to compete on the PGA Tour week in and week out."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Brooks Koepka 2026 PGA Tour return from LIV Golf comes at steep price
Continue reading...
The PGA Tour announced on Monday, Jan. 12 that Koepka can participate in the entire 2026 season through its newly established Returning Member Program for golfers "who have been away from the (PGA) Tour for at least two years and have won The Players Championship, Masters Tournament, PGA Championship, U.S. Open or The Open Championship during the 2022-2025 seasons."
It was created in response to Koepka applying for reinstatement to the PGA Tour, as well as research that showed fans wanted to see the best golfers competing together more often. Koepka is eligible for the PGA Tour again through his 2023 PGA Championship win, though the new program also includes a steep financial penalty.
ANALYSIS: What does Brooks Koepka's return to the PGA Tour mean for LIV Golf's future?
Returning players will not receive any payment from the FedExCup bonus program for the 2026 season and will be ineligible to earn equity from the player equity program for the next five years (2026-2030). Koepka could miss out on approximately $50-85 million in potential equity earnings, according to the PGA Tour, depending on his competitive performance and the Tour's growth. He also agreed to make a $5 million charitable contribution to an agreed-upon organization.
Koepka, 35, confirmed on Monday he plans to make his 2026 PGA Tour debut at the Farmers Insurance Open beginning Jan. 29 at Torrey Pines in San Diego. Koepka is also committed to play in the WM Phoenix Open starting on Feb. 5 at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona. It will be his first start in a regular PGA Tour event since the WGC Dell Technologies Match Play in March 2022.
Koepka will still have to play his way into the lucrative signature events on the PGA Tour schedule. He is ineligible for sponsor exemptions into those fields. Other tournament fields will be expanded to accommodate Koepka's presence in order to ensure PGA Tour golfers don't lose a spot this season due to his return.
"The penalty is significant but I understand why they’ve done it. It hurts but it’s supposed to," Koepka told Golfweek. "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."
Koepka announced he was forgoing the final year on his contract with LIV Golf on Dec. 23 and left "amicably," according to LIV Golf CEO Scott O'Neil. Koepka was the first golfer to win a major while playing for LIV Golf at the 2023 PGA Championship.
There are three other LIV Golf members eligible to return to the PGA Tour based on the criteria of the Returning Member Program: Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith. The PGA Tour said those golfers have until Feb. 2 to accept the terms of the program and still be eligible to participate in the 2026 season. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp emphasized, however, that this alternative route won't necessarily exist in the future.
"This is a one-time, defined window and does not set a precedent for future situations. Once the door closes, there is no promise that this path will be available again," Rolapp wrote in a letter to fans. "We will continue to aggressively pursue anything that enhances the fan experience and makes the PGA Tour stronger. This is part of our commitment to fans, who expect the world’s best players to compete on the PGA Tour week in and week out."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Brooks Koepka 2026 PGA Tour return from LIV Golf comes at steep price
Continue reading...
