Tiger Woods calls Brooks Koepka’s PGA Tour return ‘incredible for all the fans’
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Brooks Koepka took the golf world by storm in the late 2010s, winning four major championships between 2018 and 2019.
His dominance in the majors made him an instant fan favorite, but after moving to LIV Golf in 2022, fans saw much less of Koepka.
That’s because Koepka was only eligible to play in the majors after leaving the PGA Tour for the Saudi-backed league. But his performance, capped by his third PGA Championship victory in 2023, also earned him the nod for the Ryder Cup.
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Tiger Woods of the United States tees off the 13th tee with his playing partner Brooks Koepka of the United States during the first round of the 2019 PGA Championship on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park on May 16, 2019 in Farmingdale, New York. (David Cannon/Getty Images)
But after a poor showing since then and rumors of buyer’s remorse, Koepka left LIV Golf last week to return to the PGA Tour, leaving him with a year left on his contract.
Speaking about Koepka’s return, Tiger Woods said it was “incredible for all the fans.”
“They want to see the best play against the best,” Woods said. he told ESPN on Tuesday. “And Brooks wanting to come back a year early, he did that.”
“There are some punitive damages, but it’s meritocracy. That’s what makes our game so great. He’s going to play full-court events and has the ability to step up to signature events. If he’s good, he’s good. If he plays good, he plays great. If he wins tournaments, he wins tournaments. There’s no reason to hold him back,” Woods continued.
Koepka backed out of LIV Golf late last month, citing family time as his reason for leaving. Ironically, he’ll be on the road even more after rejoining the PGA Tour. In fact, Cameron Smith reiterated his commitment to LIV Golf earlier this week, saying it allowed him to be at home more often.
“As a kid, I always dreamed of competing on the @PGATOUR, and today I’m equally excited to announce my return to the PGA TOUR. Being closer to home and spending more time with my family makes this opportunity especially meaningful to me,” Koepka said in his PGA Tour return announcement. he said.
Brooks Koepka in the second round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Quail Hollow. (Aaron Doster-Imagn Images)
LIV GOLF STARS DECIDE TO STAY IN AFTER BROOKS KOEPKA’S DEPARTURE, RETURN TO PGA TOUR
“I believe in where the PGA TOUR will go with new leadership, new investors and a capital program that gives players a meaningful ownership stake. I also understand and accept the financial penalties associated with this decision.”
PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp said Koepka’s return sparked the Returning Member Program for those who left the company and those who may decide to follow in Koepka’s footsteps.
Rolapp said Koepka agreed to a few conditions on his return to the PGA Tour; these include “the loss of five years of potential capital from the PGA Tour’s Player Equity Program, which, according to Rolapp, represents one of the largest financial repercussions in the history of professional sports, with estimates that it could miss out on approximately $50-85 million in potential earnings depending on competitive performance and the growth of the Tour.” Koepka will also donate $5 million to an unspecified organization.
Brooks Koepka was born on September 30, 2025 in St. During the training session ahead of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championships in Andrews, Scotland. (Ross Parker/SNS Group via Getty Images)
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Koepka became the first person to return to the PGA Tour after joining LIV Golf.
Fox News’ Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report.
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