{"id":409844,"date":"2026-01-13T09:11:15","date_gmt":"2026-01-13T09:11:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/409844\/"},"modified":"2026-01-13T09:11:15","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T09:11:15","slug":"cameron-smith-issued-ultimatum-to-rejoin-pga-tour-brooks-koepka-penalty-jon-rahm-bryson-dechambeau-future-on-liv-as-phil-mickelson-snubbed-reaction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/409844\/","title":{"rendered":"Cameron Smith issued ultimatum to rejoin PGA Tour, Brooks Koepka penalty; Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau future on LIV as Phil Mickelson snubbed, reaction"},"content":{"rendered":"

Australia\u2019s Cameron Smith is one of multiple LIV Golf stars offered an ultimatum by the PGA Tour as Brooks Koepka officially rejoined <\/a>the US Tour on Tuesday morning AEDT.<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

Smith, two-time US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau and former world No.1 Jon Rahm have been given until February 2 to apply for reinstatement to the PGA Tour, if they are interested, after the \u2018Returning Member Program\u2019 was introduced to facilitate Koepka\u2019s comeback.<\/p>\n

The \u2018Returning Member Program\u2019 is only an option for players who have won a major championship or the Players Championship since the men\u2019s game was split in two in 2022.<\/p>\n

That means Smith is eligible courtesy of his triumphs at TPC Sawgrass and St Andrews that year.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a one-time, defined window and does not set a precedent for future situations. Once the door closes, there is no promise that this path will be available again,\u201d PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp said in a letter to fans. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe will continue to aggressively pursue anything that enhances the fan experience and makes the PGA Tour stronger.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is part of our commitment to fans, who expect the world\u2019s best players to compete on the PGA Tour week in and week out.\u201d<\/p>\n

READ MORE <\/p>\n

Smith must ask himself a $210m question. The answer will decide his legacy for good<\/a><\/p>\n

\u20184D chess\u2019 theory behind bitter snub as golf world melts down over $530m \u2018masterstroke\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n

Despite the olive branch being extended to Smith, Rahm and DeChambeau, it did not include six-time major champion Phil Mickelson.<\/p>\n

The 2022 cut avoids Mickelson\u2019s unforgettable 2021 PGA Championship victory, when at age 50 he became the oldest major champion.<\/p>\n

Mickelson would be unlikely to re-join the PGA Tour given he is firmly in the LIV camp, and with Tiger Woods being one of the key decision makers in the \u2018Returning Player Program\u2019 it adds a new layer to their long-time rivalry that was re-ignited by Mickelson\u2019s switch to LIV and his many disparaging comments towards his former employers. <\/p>\n

In response to the PGA Tour\u2019s announcement, LIV Golf issued their own eyebrow raising statement that seemed to show they are okay with players leaving the breakaway tour, while also taking a sly dig at the exclusivity of the \u2018Returning Player Program\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom the outset, LIV Golf has championed an open ecosystem and freedom, for all. Not just for a limited few,\u201d the statement read.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne that supports players\u2019 rights to compete across various platforms, reinforcing the belief that the growth of the game is best served when the game\u2019s best players are empowered to seek the most competitive environments around the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

Koepka, meanwhile, will make his return to the PGA Tour at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in San Diego, California this month, but his decision to jump back over the fence dividing men\u2019s professional golf comes with a few restrictions.<\/p>\n

Koepka will not be allowed to obtain sponsor invites into signature events, he will hold no Tour equity for five years and will be ineligible for any FedEx Cup bonus money this year – which the Tour estimates could range between US$55-85 million (A$82m-A$126m) – as well as being hit with a US$5 million (A$7.5m) fine.<\/p>\n

\u201cForfeiting five years of potential equity in our Player Equity Program represents one of the largest financial repercussions in professional sports history,\u201d Rolapp said in a memo to players.<\/p>\n

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA – MARCH 14: Cameron Smith celebrates winning the Players Championship.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n

Koepka has copped the financial blow on the chin, however, and been granted his wish after applying for reinstatement on December 23.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen 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,\u201d Koepka said in the statement. <\/p>\n

\u201cBeing closer to home and spending more time with my family makes this opportunity especially meaningful to me.<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe in where the PGA TOUR is headed with new leadership, new investors and an equity program that gives players a meaningful ownership stake.<\/p>\n

\u201cI also understand there are financial penalties associated with this decision, and I accept those.\u201d<\/p>\n

Koepka knows that his return is not fully welcomed, however.<\/p>\n

Reports emerged from the Wai\u02bbalae Country Club in Hawaii, the venue for this week\u2019s season opening Sony Open that a lot of unhappy players were spending more time looking at their phones to figure out what was going on than hitting balls on the driving range.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve got a lot of work to do with some of the players,\u201d Koepka said in an interview with AP. \u201cThere\u2019s definitely guys who are happy, and definitely guys who will be angry. It\u2019s a harsh punishment financially. I understand exactly why the tour did that \u2014 it\u2019s meant to hurt. But it (his departure) hurt a lot of people.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf anyone is upset, I need to rebuild those relationships.\u201d<\/p>\n

Koepka later added: \u201cThe first week I\u2019ll be a little bit nervous. <\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a lot going on than just golf. I\u2019ll be glad to put the first week behind me \u2014 dealing with the media, dealing with the players, and then getting some of those tougher conversations. But I\u2019m looking forward to it.<\/p>\n

\u201cAm I nervous? Yes. Am I excited? Yes. In a weird way, I want to have those conversations.\u201d<\/p>\n

Koepka met with Rolapp at the PGA Tour\u2019s Florida headquarters on Friday.<\/p>\n

He snuck through a side door to try stay unsighted, and arrived without any lawyers or his agent.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was no negotiating,\u201d Koepka said when asked about his meeting and the financial penalties.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s meant to hurt, it does hurt, but I understand. It\u2019s not supposed to be an easy path. There\u2019s a lot of people that were hurt by it when I left, and I understand that\u2019s part of coming back.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rolapp also stressed in his statement that Koepka will not be taking the place of a current PGA Tour member in any fields he competes in, saying instead a spot will be added. <\/p>\n

Rolapp reportedly informed players of the decision on Monday and explained that it had been approved by the PGA Tour Policy Board and the PGA Tour Enterprises Board, both of which include Tiger Woods along with Australian star Adam Scott.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn evaluating the situation, our objectives were clear: (1) make the PGA Tour stronger, (2) preserve playing opportunities for current members and (3) deliver on fan desire to see the best players in the world back on our Tour, while ensuring Returning Members must accept severe yet appropriate financial consequences,\u201d Rolapp\u2019s memo said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Australia\u2019s Cameron Smith is one of multiple LIV Golf stars offered an ultimatum by the PGA Tour as…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":409845,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[566],"tags":[5487,2095,4131,64,63,24916,216951,62094,6933,485,3193,216789,216780,2057,38775,216786,755,5500,1745,216953,216791,1025,2041,2067,3583,5492,5496,216950,42300,216952,216954,216792,2852,5886,31665,85,42307,9244,2614],"class_list":["post-409844","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-golf","tag-adam-scott","tag-america","tag-atlanta","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-australian-star","tag-bonus-money","tag-brian-rolapp","tag-bryson-dechambeau","tag-california","tag-cameron-smith","tag-door-closes","tag-equity-program","tag-europe","tag-fan-experience","tag-financial-penalties","tag-golf","tag-golf-championship","tag-golf-news","tag-insurance-open","tag-meaningful-ownership-stake","tag-new-york","tag-north-america","tag-northern-america","tag-northern-europe","tag-northern-ireland","tag-peter-morrison","tag-pga-tour-enterprises-board","tag-pga-tour-policy-board","tag-players-eligible","tag-professional-sports-history","tag-returning-member-program","tag-royal-portrush-golf-club","tag-san-diego","tag-signature-events","tag-sports","tag-state-of-georgia","tag-tiger-woods","tag-united-states-of-america"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/409844","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=409844"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/409844\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/409845"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=409844"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=409844"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=409844"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}