Brooks Koepka Breaks Silence Following Stunning PGA Tour Return

Brooks Koepka got reinstated to the PGA Tour on Monday under the new one-time Returning Member Program.

Brooks Koepka Breaks Silence Following Stunning PGA Tour Return

Brooks Koepka (Image via BBC)

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On Monday, Brooks Koepka officially returned to the PGA Tour. The golfer got reinstated to the tour under the new Returning Member Program. Following this, he broke his silence and spoke about his stunning return to the tour.

Koepka, the 5-time major champion, sent shockwaves across the golfing community in December when he left LIV Golf. The golfer, who still had one-year left on his contract with the Saudi-backed league, would end up leaving them due to some family reasons.

Following his departure from LIV Golf, there had been talks about his return to the Tour. In March last year, former Masters Champion Fred Couples expressed that Koepka wanted to return to the tour. The golfer would later express that he was uncertain about his future.

The PGA Tour on Monday released a statement. CEO Brian Rolapp announced a new one-time Returning Member Program.

According to this program, golfers who have been away for more than 2 years and have won The Players Championship, or any one of the 4 majors from 2022 to 2025, were eligible to return to the tour.

Koepka became eligible for this due to his 2023 PGA Championship win at Oak Hill Country Club. He does have to face some consequences.

The former World No.1 will not be eligible for the Players Equity Program from 2026 to 2030 and would lose around $50 to $85 million in potential equity earnings. He will not receive any FedEx Cup bonus money in 2026 and will get any sponsors’ exemption into the signature events.

To play in them, he will have to earn his way into the fields through the qualifying methods. Upon request from the tour, Koepka had to make a $5 million charitable donation as well.

Following his return, Koepka would speak with the Associated Press in a telephone interview. During this, the American international admitted that he has a “lot of work to do” to repair some relationships that were broken following his jump to LIV Golf.

I’ve got a lot of work to do with some of the players. There’s definitely guys who are happy, and definitely guys who will be angry. It’s a harsh punishment financially. I understand exactly why the tour did that — it’s meant to hurt. But it (his departure) hurt a lot of people.

Brooks Koepka said as per the Associated Press

He also added that the fines and penalties were meant to hurt. However, the golfer expressed that he was grateful and happy to be back on the tour.

Brooks Koepka to mark return at PGA Tour with appearance at Farmers Insurance Open and WM Phoenix Open

Brooks Koepka has been reinstated to the PGA Tour. He will mark his return with an appearance at the Farmers Insurance Open later this month and follow it up by teeing off at the Waste Management Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Brooks Koepka
Brooks Koepka (Image via Newsweek)

Koepka’s last regular PGA Tour start was at the Valspar Championship in March 2022. He would finish T12 in that event with a score of 11-under par.

The golfer will now be in the field at the Torrey Pines course during the Farmers Insurance Open.

After this, Koepka will play in the WM Phoenix Open. In a post on their official account, they welcomed back Koepka.

Koepka’s first PGA Tour win was the WM Phoenix Open in 2015. He would later win this tournament again in 2021, finishing with a score of 19-under and 1 stroke ahead of runners-up Lee Kyoung-hoon and Xander Schauffele.

As for the major championships, he has an exemption in all four of them until 2028 due to his victory at the 2023 PGA Championship. So at the moment, he does not have to worry about qualifying for the majors.

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