Brooks Koepka left LIV Golf.
Now he’s returning to the PGA Tour — in just two weeks.
And the Tour is opening the door for three more LIV stars to return as well.
On Monday, as the tournament began the opening week of its 2026 season, new CEO, Brian Rolappmet with players to announce the launch of the PGA Tour Returning Member Program.
The tournament says the program comes in response to two factors:
– Fan research showing “a clear desire to see the best players competing together more often”
-And “timely requests from players who are not competing on the PGA Tour and express interest in returning”
But it’s simpler to put it this way: The Tour wants Brooks Koepka back. And now they are making it happen.
The second point—those “timed searches”—apparently refers to Koepka, who gave the tournament some attention just before he officially left LIV Golf on December 23, 2025. This decision (plus the PGA Tour’s immediate reaction) suggested that Koepka return to play on the PGA Tour in OTHER USEFUL point. But Monday’s announcement means the return is coming soon: Koepka released a statement that he plans to make it to the Farmers Insurance Open in two weeks and the WM Phoenix Open the week after that.
So how is Koepka eligible, what penalties does he face, and who else could theoretically join him? Here’s what we know so far, outlined in 10 questions and answers.
Who is eligible for this “Returning Member Program”?
The Tour says its program targets players “who have achieved elite performance-based criteria.” Its definition? Winners of a major championship or Players since the start of the 2022 season.
To qualify, players must not have been a member of the tour for more than two years (Koepka did not reapply for tour membership after the 2022 season) and must be able to comply with the tour’s rules about conflicting media and events. They must complete a minimum of 15 events. And players are asked to apply for reinstatement in the next two weeks; the window for this program closes on February 2, 2026.
Okay, so who positively are we talking
Four players in total. Koepka is eligible thanks to his win at the 2023 PGA Championship. Bryson DeChambeau is, too, thanks to his win at the US Open in 2024. Jon Rahm won the 2023 Masters. And Cameron Smith won the 2022 Open Championship as well as the 2022 Players
That doesn’t mean any of the other three will follow the comeback. But it’s an interesting move by Tour management to open the door – and it’ll be even more interesting to see if someone else comes through.
So who? they are not are we talking
LIV has produced a number of great champions, but the 2022 cap eliminates a few notables from eligibility. Specifically these four:
Phil Mickelson (2021 PGA Champion)
Dustin Johnson (2020 Masters Champion)
Patrick Reed (2018 Masters Champion)
Sergio Garcia (2017 Masters champion)
It also doesn’t provide access to LIV’s other talented pros who haven’t earned degrees – guys like Tyrrell Hatton, Joaquin Niemann.
Wait, I thought LIV players faced suspensions if they wanted to return to the PGA Tour?
Yes – that had been the agreement. We’ve heard it from Hudson Swafford and from Wesley Bryan and even from the pros who competed at last week’s LIV Promotions event. But that’s basically a recognition from the Tour, the rules are different if you’re Brooks Koepka. Why? Because the tournament is stronger with who plays in it. Here’s how Rolapp ended his open letter to fans:
“We will continue to aggressively pursue anything that improves the fan experience and makes the PGA Tour stronger. This is part of our commitment to fans, who expect the best players in the world to compete on the PGA Tour week after week.”
So Koepka is just waltzing in like nothing happened?!
Not quite – although the Tour knows many players will be asking that exact question. Here’s a relevant excerpt from the tournament memo to players, which called it a “direct response to a unique situation”:
“We understand there may be questions about how this policy holds a returning player accountable, especially after he has earned substantial compensation elsewhere. Ultimately, by accepting membership in the Returning Member category, Brooks is making the decision to return to the PGA TOUR now — something our fans want and something that strengthens our game and organization.”
But Koepka — and anyone who follows him — will be different from your regular Tour player in two meaningful ways:
1. Returning members are not eligible to earn equity from the Player Equity Program for the next five years (2026-30)
2. Returning members will not receive any payment from the FedExCup Bonus Program for the 2026 season
So you’re giving up money? How much?!
For starters, Koepka has accepted the tournament’s request that he donate $5 million to charity, “the beneficiary(ies) of which will be jointly determined.”
The five-year equity forfeiture is harder to calculate, though Rolapp told the players that, based on performance, a player of Koepka’s caliber could be handed over in the $50-60 million range.
Koepka’s ineligibility for FedEx Cup Bonus money theoretically costs him between $0 and $23 million, depending on his play.
But in addition to the $5 million donation, Koepka’s punishment from the Tour comes in the form of limiting potential earnings rather than taking money out of his own pocket. He will still be eligible for prizes – even in the tournament championship, if he qualifies.
What did Brooks have to say about all this?
Koepka has been particularly mum since LIV’s announcement, leaving others to fill the void. But he released a statement to coincide with the Tour announcement – which included the fact that he will return to the Farmers Insurance Open as well as the WM Phoenix Open. Here’s the rest of what he said:
I want to thank my family and team for their constant support during every step of my professional career.
When I was a kid, I always dreamed of competing on the PGA TOUR, and I’m just as excited today to announce that I’m returning to the PGA TOUR. Being closer to home and spending more time with my family makes this opportunity especially meaningful to me.
I believe where the PGA TOUR is headed with new leadership, new investors and an equity program that gives players a significant ownership stake. I also understand that there are financial penalties associated with this decision and I accept them.
Finally, I want to thank the fans. Your support means more to me today than ever before, and I look forward to seeing you soon at the Farmers Insurance Open and the WM Phoenix Open.
Will this encourage other players to leave for LIV, knowing they can come back?
It is possible that someone gets a calculated game, but I don’t think so. The tournament is keeping this VIP-only — four players is a tight qualifying bracket — and with a window open of about three weeks, it’s not unexpectedly a two-way street. Rolapp wants to make sure that doesn’t happen; this line in his letter made it clear:
This is a one-time window and does not set a precedent for future situations. Once the door is closed, there is no promise that this route will be available again.
Still, it’ll be interesting to see what happens if a non-major winner approaches the tournament between now and Feb. 2 — or if that affects future disciplinary decisions about players like Pat Perez, who hopes to play on the PGA Champions Tour.
Will Koepka’s return knock other players off the field?
No. it’s already cut eligibility and field size, so bringing in an ex-LIV player and starting a loyal Tour pro from a field would ruffle a few feathers.
Instead, when Koepka plays, he will be added to the field in a separate category “and will not affect the eligibility of any other player.” The memo even suggested that an additional player or players could be added to the fields along with the “Returning Members” to balance out set times as needed.
Returning Members may not receive sponsor exemptions for Signature Events; they would only enter through playing categories like the Aon Next 10 or Swing 5 (or by breaking the OWGR top 30.)
And returning members are eligible to qualify for the FedEx Cup Playoffs, but will not take the place of someone else who did; they would expand the field by one player.
So – what does this mean?!
It means Brooks Koepka is coming back. It means Brian Rolapp is ready to shake things up. That means other players in the tournament’s lead (Tiger Woods notable among them) are happy to welcome him back. And that means that, for the first time since LIV’s launch in 2022, the PGA Tour is welcoming back one of its stars BACK.
Does it mean more than that? We will have to wait and see.
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