Tom Watson slams PGA Tour for allowing Koepka’s return from LIV Golf
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Legendary golfer Tom Watson offered an insightful look at the new program that paved the way for Brooks Koepka’s return to the PGA Tour.
Koepka left LIV Golf in December 2025. When he left, the three-time PGA Championship winner had about a year remaining on his contract with the Saudi-backed circuit.
Koepka applied for reinstatement from the PGA Tour and quickly received approval under the tour’s new Returning Member Program. Watson, a two-time Masters champion who attended the ceremony held at Augusta National on Thursday morning, expressed harsh criticism of the process.
CLICK HERE TO GET MORE SPORTS NEWS ON FOXNEWS.COM
Brooks Koepka of the United States reacts on the fifth green during the third round of the Valspar Championship 2026 at the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club on March 21, 2026 in Palm Harbor, Florida. (James Gilbert/Getty Images)
“The tour decided to renege on the promise they made when the players went to LIV. They felt the compensation they paid was good enough,” Watson said at the 90th edition of the Masters.
Watson then laid out what he believes should happen going forward.
“I thought LIV players should be banned for life when they leave. If I were commissioner, I would do that. I would say if your contract with LIV Golf is up, if you want to play the PGA Tour again, you come back and you have to play the Korn Ferry Tour for a year to qualify.”
BROOKS KOEPKA’S LAWYER GIVES INSIDE VIEW OF GOLFER’S LIVE DEPARTURE, RETURN TO PGA TOUR
Koepka addressed his return to the PGA Tour in a post on social media.
“As a kid, I always dreamed of competing on the PGA Tour, and today I am equally excited to announce my return to the PGA Tour,” Koepka told X on January 12. he said. “Being closer to home and spending more time with my family makes this opportunity especially meaningful to me. I believe this is where the PGA Tour is headed with new leadership, new investors and a capital program that provides players with a meaningful ownership stake.”
He continued: “I also understand and accept the financial penalties associated with this decision.”
According to the tour’s CEO, Brian Rolapp, he agreed to stay in the player equity program for five years; The value of this fine is up to $85 million. The professional golfer has also pledged to donate $5 million to charity and will have to earn the right to participate in the tour’s signature events.
Brooks Koepka reacts after missing the putt on the eighth hole during the third round of the US Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club on Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. (Carolyn Kaster/AP)
Several LIV golfers, including Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith, rejected the PGA Tour’s controversial offer. Hideki Matsuyama and Wyndham Clark, who reportedly passed on financially advantageous LIV deals, said Koepka’s move left them conflicted.
Matsuyama told Golf Digest Japan he was “shocked” by Koepka’s return, adding that he respected the decision but was discouraged by what he saw as a lack of communication on tour.
Watson joined the PGA Tour in 1971 and won eight majors during his storied career.
Tom Watson will return to St. Petersburg, Scotland on July 11, 2022. He smiles as he walks past the Claret Jug in the first innings during the Celebration of Champions Challenge during practice for the 150th Open Championship in St Andrews, St Andrews. (Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR)
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION
He also suggested that the departures from LIV amounted to a fundamental breach of the sport’s fundamental principles.
“When players left, they violated the No. 1 rule we really have here, which is protecting sponsors,” he said. “Sponsors need players. They need names to promote their tournaments. If players want to play without the overlapping event rule, where you have to get permission from the PGA Tour to play in a tournament that’s the exact opposite of a PGA Tour tournament, sponsors suffer. I think we all understand that.”
“When the players left to go to LIV, I guess it was over. They chose to go for the money, which is fine. But I thought returning to the tour wasn’t a good idea to begin with. But apparently not.”
Watson last played competitively at the 2019 Senior Open Championship and remains an honorary starter to open the Masters for the fifth consecutive year.
Follow Fox News Digital Sports streaming on Xand subscribe Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
