AFTER his departure from the LIV Golf Tour, came the announcement that Brooks Koepka, a five-time major championship winner, would return to the PGA TOUR as early as the Farmers Insurance Open on January 29.
One of the original ‘defectors’ to LIV when the breakaway tour was established, Koepka took advantage of the Returning Member Program, which applies to players who’ve won a major championship, or the PGA TOUR’s Players Championship, since 2022.
The 35-year-old, a nine-time PGA TOUR champion, is eligible to return under the newly created criteria based on his win at the 2023 PGA Championship.
Koepka and those players eligible to return needed to apply and accept the terms of the program by February 2, 2026. Other eligible players included Australian Cam Smith, Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm, however those three have since indicated they remain committed to LIV for the 2026 season.
Brooks Koepka has left LIV Golf and will return to the PGA TOUR in 2026.
“When I was a child, I always dreamed about competing on the PGA TOUR, and I am just as excited today to announce that I am returning to the PGA TOUR,” Koepka said in a statement. “I believe in where the PGA TOUR is headed with new leadership, new investors and an equity program that gives players a meaningful ownership stake.”
While reaction to the announcement and terms surrounding his return was mixed, Rory McIlroy was one prepared to welcome Koepka, and if need be, other current LIV players, back to the PGA TOUR.
“They’ve made the money, but they’ve paid their consequence in terms of the reputation and some of the things they’ve lost by going over there,” McIlroy said. “If it made the overall tour stronger to have Bryson DeChambeau back and whoever else, I would be OK with it.”
Wyndham Clark, the 2023 US Open champion who previously knocked back an opportunity to join LIV, had mixed feelings as to whether he supported or opposed Koepka’s return.
“I personally really like Brooks, and I think it’s ultimately really good for the PGA Tour. But also … it’s kind of frustrating that he’s able to get the cake and also eat it,” Clark said, speaking on Sirius XM Radio.
“At the end of the day, I want whatever’s best for the PGA Tour. If guys come back, especially top players like Brooks, it’s only going to help the Tour which is only going to help me.”
Included in the penalty imposed by the Tour as a condition of Koepka’s return, were heavy financial consequences, “to ensure fairness to current members”.
Koepka will not receive any payment from the FedExCup Bonus Program for the 2026 season and will be ineligible to earn equity from the Player Equity Program for the next five years (2026-2030). This could mean he misses out on potential equity earnings estimated to be around $50-85 million.
Additionally, Koepka won’t be eligible for sponsor exemptions into Signature Events and must play his way into those fields through existing pathways.
He has also agreed to make a $5 million charitable contribution, the recipient(s) of which will be determined jointly by Koepka and the PGA TOUR.
– Rob Willis
Cam remains loyal to LIV
Following on from the decision made by Brooks Koepka to leave the LIV Golf League to return to play on the PGA TOUR in 2026, came a statement from Cameron Smith in rejecting the opportunity to join him.
“I made a decision to come here, and I stand by it,” Smith stated at LIV Golf’s 2026 season launch. “I’m gonna stay. I’m really excited for 2026, and I think our team is going to have one of its best years yet.”
Though Smith captured two LIV tournaments in London and at Trump National Golf Club (Bedminster) during 2023, victory has eluded him ever since. The Australian ended up 18th in the individual LIV rankings in 2025.
As team captain, Smith’s Ripper GC claimed LIV’s Team Championship in 2024, scoring a memorable win at LIV Adelaide along the way.
Struggling in 2025 to produce the level of golf which saw Smith win the 2022 Open Championship, the popular Queenslander found some form in finishing second at the recent Australian Open, where he was denied victory by a spectacular up and down from Dane Rasmus Neergard-Peterson on the 72nd hole.
(See page 6 February). Joining Smith, Marc Leishman and Lucas Herbert on Ripper GC in 2026 will be promising young Australian Elvis Smylie.
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