Brooks Koepka to make PGA Tour return under new scheme in January
Five-time major champion Brooks Koepka will make his return to the PGA Tour in January under a new returning member program following his departure from LIV Golf.
The 35-year-old American controversially left the PGA Tour to join the Saudi Arabia-backed series in 2022, winning five races in four seasons.
In December, Koepka announced he was leaving the lucrative breakaway league despite having one year left on his contract, and he recently re-applied for membership on the PGA Tour.
“As a kid, I always dreamed of competing on the PGA Tour, and today I’m excited to announce my return,” said Koepka, who has agreed to forgo any payments from the FedExCup Bonus program through the 2026 season and will not be eligible to participate in the Tour’s $50-85 million player capital program from 2026-2030.
“I believe where the PGA Tour will go with new leadership, new investors and an equity program that provides players with a meaningful ownership stake.”
Koepka’s desire to be reinstated appeared to create a major dilemma for the PGA Tour; rules stated he would not be eligible to play again until August, a year after his last LIV appearance.
However, after being offered an earlier route back to the PGA Tour, he will take part in the Farmers Insurance Open, which will be played at Torrey Pines from January 29 to February 1.
Under the terms of the newly announced initiative, only players who have been away from the PGA Tour for at least two years and have won the Players Championship or a major in the previous four seasons are eligible to participate.
In a letter to fans, PGA Tour chief executive Brian Rolapp stated that the program would only be open for the 2026 campaign and would be ‘in response to unique circumstances’.
“We will continue to aggressively pursue anything that improves the fan experience and makes the PGA Tour stronger,” Rolapp said.
“This is part of our commitment to the fans who expect the best players in the world to compete on the PGA Tour every week.”
Koepka, who won his third U.S. PGA Championship title in 2023, also agreed to make a $5 million charitable contribution and committed to play in the Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale Feb. 5-8.
Returning PGA Tour members are expected to participate in at least 15 co-sponsored and sanctioned tournaments in 2026.
