Tom Watson has blasted the PGA Tour’s decision to allow Brooks Koepka to return -Credit:Getty Images
(Getty Images)
Tom Watson says Brooks Koepka should not be playing on the PGA Tour as he scolded the organization’s decision to allow the LIV Golf defector to return.
The five-time major winner turned his back on the PGA Tour to join the Saudi-rich league in 2022. But at the start of this year, it was announced Koepka would be returning. The PGA Tour created the Returning Members Program, a potential one-off and brief path for players to return to the organization.
Not even Patrick Reed, who is seeking PGA Tour reinstatement, qualified for the program, and he will have to wait until 2027 for full status.
• Phil Mickelson behavior toward Masters locker room staff in parking lot after win said it all
• Fred Couples lays his feelings on the line with highly charged Tiger Woods response
For eight-time major champion Watson, he believes Koepka should face a path more like Reed. He believes if the players don’t receive a lifetime ban, as initially feared, they should at least spend a year playing on the Korn Ferry Tour – the tour one below the PGA Tour.
The honorary starter also criticized the Tour over the impact a decision like Koepka’s return has on the sponsors.
“The Tour made a decision to renege on what they promised when the players left for LIV. They felt that the compensation that he’s paid is good enough,” Watson began.
“I thought the LIV players, when they left, they were supposed to be banned for life. If I was commissioner, that’s what I would do.
Brooks Koepka is back playing in the PGA Tour -Credit:Getty Images
“I’d say if you’re finished with your contract with LIV Golf, if you want to play the PGA Tour again, you come back, and you must play the Korn Ferry Tour for a year to qualify for it.
“They saw it differently. When the players left, they violated the number one rule that we really had out here, which is to protect the sponsors. Sponsors need players. They need the names to be able to promote their tournaments.
“If the players play wherever they want to play without a conflicting event rule, where you had to seek the permission of the PGA Tour to play in a tournament opposite of a PGA Tour tournament, the sponsors would be hurt by that. I think we all understood that.
“When the players left for LIV, I think it was basically over. They chose to go for the money, which is fine, but to return to the Tour, I thought, was a nonstarter, but apparently it’s not.”
• Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player send messages to Tiger Woods as stern demand given
• Bryson DeChambeau feelings clear on Masters rule major champion was kicked out over
In his statement on Koepka’s return, Rolapp put a lot of emphasis on the decision to better the PGA Tour fan experience.
As well as listing off Koepka’s strict limitations such as a five-year forfeiture of the Player Equity Program – which could mean Koepka misses out anywhere between $50 – $85 million – and a $5 million charitable contribution, Rolapp said, “We will continue to aggressively pursue anything that enhances the fan experience and makes the PGA Tour stronger. This is part of our commitment to fans, who expect the world’s best players to compete on the PGA Tour week in and week out.”