Former World No.1 Brooks Koepka Unbothered by Tom Watson’s Comments Regarding His PGA Tour Reinstatement

Brooks Koepka returned to the PGA Tour in January 2026 after leaving LIV Golf in December 2025 and ending a 4-year stay with them.

Former World No.1 Brooks Koepka Unbothered by Tom Watson’s Comments Regarding His PGA Tour Reinstatement

Brooks Koepka and Tom Watson (Image via Imago/BBC)

Brooks Koepka does not care what Tom Watson has to say about him. On Friday, the former World No.1 expressed that everyone was entitled to their opinion while speaking about Watson’s comments regarding his reinstatement by the PGA Tour.

In December last year, Koepka shocked the golf world by leaving LIV Golf. The American international, who had signed a deal reported to be more than $100 million, left them after spending 4 years and winning 5 times on the Saudi-backed tour.

A few days later in January, Koepka was reinstated on the tour. As per a statement by PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp, the golfer returned through the Returning Member Program.

As per this program, a golfer who had won The Players Championship or any one of the 4 majors from the 2022 season and had been away from the PGA Tour for 2 years could return. Apart from Koepka, the likes of Jon Rahm, Cameron Smith and Bryson DeChambeau were also eligible to return.

While Koepka had to make a $5 million donation and miss out on the Player Equity Program for 5 years, there were no other major consequences. He made his first non-major PGA Tour start since 2022 at the Farmers Insurance Open.

8-time major champion Tom Watson sounded off on the PGA Tour for this. Speaking with the reporters on Thursday, the veteran golfer expressed that those who left for LIV Golf violated the sponsor and should have been forced to earn their way through the Korn Ferry Tour.

If you want to play the PGA Tour again, you come back, and you must play the Korn Ferry Tour for a year to qualify for it.

Tom Watson said regarding Brooks Koepka

After his 3-under par score on Friday, the golfer moved up 4 spots in the leaderboard and finished T13. While speaking with the reporters after the round, the 5-time major champion responded to Watson’s comments and seemed unbothered by it.

Everybody is entitled to their own opinion. That’s fine if he thinks that. He’s not the first person that’s thought that. So yeah, it is what it is.

Brooks Koepka said regarding Tom Watson

Patrick Reed, who became the second player after Koepka to leave LIV Golf, also reacted to this. The 2018 Masters Champion claimed that he (Reed) was going by the rules and could not wait to return to the Tour.

Brooks Koepka reveals mystery equipment change during Masters Tournament

Following an even par score on Thursday, Brooks Koepka fired a 3-under par score on Friday. After the round, he revealed a mysterious equipment change that nobody from his team noticed.

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

The 35-year-old missed 6 of the first 7 fairways on Thursday. His tee shots would fade more than he anticipated.

It was during the practice round that he uncovered a major change. His driver (Titleist GT3 driver) had been adjusted from its A1 setting to B1. The B1 setup gives a slight fade bias to a right-handed golfer.

According to the USGA rules, players are allowed to make changes to their equipment between rounds. This allowed Koepka to switch back to the A1 setup, which helped him perform a bit better in round 2 of the Masters Tournament.

Brooks Koepka claims he is enjoying golf more after return to PGA Tour

After staying 4 years with LIV Golf, Brooks Koepka became the first high-profile name to return to the PGA Tour. Following his second round performance on Friday, he claimed that he was enjoying golf more now.

Brooks Koepka
Brooks Koepka (Image via Imago)

In January 2026, Koepka made his first regular start on the PGA Tour since the 2022 Valspar Championship. He carded a 1-over par score in the first round of the Farmers Insurance Open.

During the press conference after this round, an emotional Koepka claimed he had fallen in love with golf again. On Friday, a reporter raised this question again and asked him about his emotions. The ex-Smash GC captain, he was enjoying the game a lot more.

Yeah, I’m just enjoying it a whole lot more. I think there is a huge difference of I’m excited to come out and play every week.

Brooks Koepka said

Since returning to the Tour, Koepka has made the cut in 4 of his 6 starts. In this, he has 3 top-25 finishes and 1 top-10 finish.

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