Brooks Koepka: PGA Tour faces huge dilemma over return of five-time major winner

The tour will undoubtedly serve as a reminder of how Hudson Swafford was handled.

The 38-year-old American was among the first to join LIV in 2022 but suffered an injury and re-applied for the PGA Tour in late 2024 after leaving the breakaway circuit.

Swafford, a three-time tour winner who now works in real estate, was given a one-year ban for each of the five LIV events he plays in 2022, which conflict with his regular PGA Tour events. He won’t be able to play on the PGA Tour again until 2027.

They were also part of a legal action taken by their LIV counterparts seeking a restraining order that would allow them to play in the 2022 PGA Tour playoffs.

Those who filed the lawsuit during that heated and contentious period created great anger among PGA Tour players, who felt that money that belonged to them as members was flowing into the pockets of lawyers.

Ironically, the lucrative arrival of LIV led to a massive increase in prize money under the old order, a $1.5 billion investment from the Strategic Sports Group, and the formation of the not-for-profit PGA Tour Enterprises.

Successful tour members now own ownership of the new company, in which 213 PGA Tour players share various sums comprising $1.3 billion in equity donations. One could argue that Koepka and his partners did them all a huge financial favor.

“I really don’t think there’s any reaction right now,” Swafford told Sports Illustrated. “Everybody has moved on. Players play where they want to play and make decisions that are in their best interest.

“And especially when you see how much money the PGA Tour is making for now.”

Billy Horschel, speaking at a recent indoor TGL event, agrees. “Selfishly, having a stake in the PGA Tour now, bringing Brooks back, adds value,” the US star said.

“So I think there needs to be a process to find out what brings these guys back.”