The PGA Tour are allowing LIV Golf defectors return thanks to a new rule that could also bring back Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm – while potentially spelling the end of the Saudi-backed revel league
Brooks Koepka is leaving LIV Golf behind(Image: )
Former LIV Golf star Brooks Koepka is returning to the PGA Tour this month without serving a ban thanks to a new rule designed to also lure back other big names like Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm.
Koepka, the five-time Major winner last played on the PGA Tour at the Valspar Championships in 2022 before joining LIV Golf for the first US event in Portland in June 2022. The Netflix Full Swing series showed his battle with injuries and he feared his competitive career was over. He banked an estimated $125m signing on fee and won $45m on the course. But his form deteriorated in the Majors and he missed the cut in three of the four Majors last year.
He announced he would not see out the final year of his LIV Golf contract on December 23 claiming he wanted to spend more time with his family. He could have paid back some money to LIV Golf. So, how does it work – and what will it mean for the future of golf? Mirror Sport takes a look…
READ MORE: PGA Tour open doors to LIV Golf stars as Brooks Koepka takes advantage of rule changeREAD MORE: What $60m Brooks Koepka return means for the PGA Tour, LIV Golf and Bryson DeChambeauWhat could have happened?
PGA Tour members were banned from the moment they teed off at any LIV Golf event.
Former world No.61 Hudson Swafford was banned for five years for playing five LIV Golf events in 2022. Lawrie Canter also served a one-year ban and returned to the PGA Tour last year – before rejoining LIV this season.
Three-time PGA Tour winner Swafford also took part in legal action against the PGA Tour which Koepka did not – and he never made inflammatory comments during golf civil’s war. But there was – and still is – a desire from many of the PGA Tour stars who did not join LIV Golf that the players who left should be punished.
What is the compromise?
The PGA Tour now has to make money for its investors after the Strategic Sports Group – including Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group – invested an initial $1.5bn last year. The return of a five-time Major winner and former world No.1 adds interest and money.
And even other players, who own part of the Tour through the PGA Tour Player Equity Program, could see a better return on their investment.
So the balancing act – to get Koepka straight back while also penalising him – he will have to play $5m to charity, will not be eligible for PGA Tour Player Equity Program for the next five years and will not receive FedEx Cup bonus money this season. He also cannot play in big-money signature events unless he qualifies. In a memo to players, Rolapp estimated it will cost Koepka $50-60m although he got an estimated LIV signing bonus of $125m and earned $45m on the breakaway tour.
Who else can join?
The new Returning Member Program allows the immediate return of stars who have won a Major or The Players since 2022 who have been away from the PGA Tour for more than two years.
This is specifically targeted at the big names who are vital for LIV Golf – Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Cam Smith. It does not apply to Tyrrell Hatton or Joaquin Niemann.
PGA CEO Brian Rolapp outlined what was required of Brooks Koepka to return(Image: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
What happens now?
New PGA Tour chief executive Brian Rollap announced the offer is only available until February 2. “This is a one-time, defined window and is not a precedent for future situations,” he said. “Once the door closes, there is no promise that this path will be available again.”
The new LIV Golf season starts in Riyadh on February 4. Double US Open winner DeChambeau, who has a huge social media following, is entering the final year of his LIV contract and now has great leverage to negotiate a new contract. Rahm only joined for the 2025 season and would likely need to play back – or sacrifice – a huge amount to return to the PGA Tour.
But the new rule is a huge challenge to the Saudi-backed tour which has failed to make any big-name signings for this new season. The defection of DeChambeau would be a huge blow.