Brandel Chamblee Throws Another Shade at LIV Golf After Former World No.1 Brooks Koepka’s Exit

Brooks Koepka left the LIV Golf on Tuesday after joining the league in 2022 on a deal reported to be worth $130 million.

Brandel Chamblee Throws Another Shade at LIV Golf After Former World No.1 Brooks Koepka’s Exit

Brooks Koepka and Brandel Chamblee (Image via Sports Illustrated/Imago)

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5-time major champion Brooks Koepka generated a massive buzz on Tuesday following his departure from LIV Golf. Golf analyst Brandel Chamblee would later throw another shade at LIV Golf and blast them on social media.

Koepka was one of the top names who defected from the PGA Tour in 2022 and joined LIV Golf on huge money deals. As per reports, the league roped in Koepka in a deal worth $130 million.

The former World No.1 had immediate success on the breakaway tour. In his first season, he won the LIV Golf Jeddah Invitational. He then won twice in both 2023 and 2024. He was also the first LIV Golfer to win a major championship when he took home the PGA Championship crown in May 2023.

The year 2025 was one to forget for Koepka. The 35-year-old claimed just 2 top-10 finishes from 13 events, finishing 31st in the season-long individual standings.

As for the major championships, he missed the cut in 3 of them. After a rough showing at the Masters Tournament and the PGA Championship, he finished T12 in the U.S Open. He then went on to miss the cut at the Open Championship as well, with scores of 75 and 74 in the opening two rounds.

Koepka, who still had one year on his contract, would part ways with LIV Golf on Tuesday. Following this, the PGA Tour released a statement through their communications account on X.

Brooks Koepka is a highly accomplished professional, and we wish him and his family continued success. The PGA Tour continues to offer the best professional golfers the most competitive, challenging and lucrative environment in which to pursue greatness.

PGA Tour said regarding Brooks Koepka on X

Following this statement from the PGA Tour, Brandel Chamblee would share his reaction. The analyst, who has been a huge critic of LIV Golf, took another dig at them and expressed that time had “exposed” the Saudi-funded tour.

Time has elevated the PGA Tour for what it is, the most competitive, legitimate and profitable tour in the world. Time has exposed the LIV tour for what it is, an ephemeral, flamboyant make-believe tour that can neither further the professional game nor the careers of the players who sacrificed their principles for profit in playing for the Saudi’s..

Brandel Chamblee said regarding Brooks Koepka’s exit on X

The 63-year-old did add that PGA Tour should make it doable for the players to return on the tour. However, he did urge them to make it difficult.

As of now, it is not certain whether Koepka will be permitted to play on the PGA Tour in the 2026 season. The golfer will need to reapply for his PGA Tour membership. He did not reapply for this in the 2022-23 season, as he had left them to play for LIV Golf. He could also face some disciplinary action from the tour before being allowed to play again.

Brooks Koepka did express earlier that he was uncertain about his future

Brooks Koepka stunned the golf fans by becoming the first major name to leave LIV Golf. Earlier this year, the golfer did express that he was uncertain about his future.

Brooks Koepka
Brooks Koepka (Image via X/@NUCLRGolf)

In March, former Masters Champion Fred Couples claimed that Koepka wanted to return to the PGA Tour. The veteran golfer also revealed that he had been in constant contact with him.

A week later, Koepka would comment on this. Ahead of the LIV Golf Singapore event, the 3-time PGA Championship winner claimed that he had a contract “obligation” to fulfil and expressed that he had no idea what would happen next.

I’ve got a contract obligation out here to fulfil, and then we’ll see what happens. I don’t know where I’m going.

Brooks Koepka said earlier this year at LIV Golf Singapore press conference

In a statement, LIV Golf revealed that he was stepping away due to family reasons. In October, his wife, Jena Sims, suffered a miscarriage and lost their baby at 16 weeks.

Following his departure, Talor Gooch was named as the new captain of Smash GC. It now remains to be seen who will be the 4th member and replace Koepka in the team for the upcoming 2026 season.

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