Scott O’Neil was not surprised to see this The PGA Tour welcomed Brooks Koepka back with open arms, after the rush. In fact, he would have done the same if the shoe was on the other foot.
LIV Golf’s CEO spoke Wednesday during a keynote panel at the spinoff league’s launch event. Koepka became the first elite player to part ways with LIV when he left the league in December. On Monday, the PGA Tour made the announcement Koepka was back on duty with a financial penalty and would return to the Farmers Insurance Open. The PGA Tour also opened a limited-time return path for “elite” players called the Returning Member Program, which will be open to Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith until February 2.
“I believe in free agency,” O’Neil said of Koepka’s return to the PGA Tour. “Call me old fashioned. I believe in open paths. I believe people should be where they want to be.”
O’Neil would not disclose the specifics of the separation agreement between Kopeka and LIV Golf. Koepka had a year left on the contract he signed to join the Saudi-backed league in 2022, but the two sides agreed to part ways “amicably” on December 23. O’Neil said there was no ill will between him and Koepka and it was clear what the Rebels were offering was not for the five-time major winner.
“I don’t think that’s where he wanted to be,” O’Neil said. “He’s talked publicly about some of the challenges, as has his wife, and I want people in the room who will wrap their arms around us and say, ‘This is what I want.’ Because when I choose LIV, I don’t choose lightly.”
“There is no holy war, at least on our end,” O’Neil later said. “It’s like, we’re about LIV Golf and growing the game globally. In fact, I love Brooks. I’m rooting for Brooks. I hope the best for him and his family. If that’s what he wants, there’s no better cheerleader for him than me. I’ll tell you what, good for him if he gets what he wants and we can get happier for us.”
Koepka joined LIV in his second event in 2022. At the time, he was concerned about mounting injuries and had doubts about his long-term competitive future. But he won the 2023 PGA Championship and became the first LIV player to win five times on the circuit.
But it’s clear that, for whatever reason, Koepka and LIV didn’t line up. Whether it was the travel, the format, the demands of a rookie league or a combination of everything, Koepka wanted to move on from the decision he made three years ago.
“You know what’s not for everyone? Sharing on social media and making sure your fans know you,” O’Neil said. “You know what’s not for everyone? Making sure that at this event, when we see these little kids, it’s those little kids who were our players 20, 30 years ago — touching them, taking pictures with them, taking selfies, signing autographs, engaging, this time with the media. It’s not for everyone. Our expectations are higher. What we apologize to our players for is one thing we apologize for.”
Rickie Fowler, who is close to Koepka, noted at last night’s TGL event that Koepka had been looking for a path back to the PGA Tour for some time.
“I think it’s fantastic,” Fowler said of Koepka’s return. I feel like Brooks has been in a position, he’s wanted to get back playing with us for a long time, so I’m very happy that we’re back in the position we’re in now.”
As for LIV’s three other members, the PGA Tour blazed a trail, all three said Tuesday they will remain with LIV Golf.
“I mean, look, I’m under contract through 2026, so I’m excited about this year,” DeChambeau said.
“I’m not planning on going anywhere. Very similar answer to what Bryson gave,” Rahm said. “I wish Brooks the best. As for me, I’m focused on the league and my team this year.”
While O’Neil said there is no “holy war” between the two sides following Koepka’s departure, it’s clear that new PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp will take a different approach than commissioner Jay Monahan. Rolapp’s interest is not what happened but in what comes next and how to improve the PGA Tour product. The olive branch he extended to DeChambeau, Rahm and Smith was the first time the PGA Tour has really gone on the offensive in golf’s civil conflict. It was an attempt to weaken LIV by striking at its core – star power. It was the first move with a new player on board who is not limited by what happened before he arrived.
On Wednesday, O’Neil left Rolapp opening detection. The LIV boss projected the belief that there would be no mass exodus – that Koepka was a unique situation.
“There’s not a shadow of a doubt in my mind, it wasn’t yesterday, it won’t be today, and it certainly won’t be tomorrow, that the players have put their chips down and they’re all in, and I love that,” O’Neil said.
It showed DeChambeau, one of golf’s greatest pitchers, committing to LIV the day before. He praised him for being a “generational” athlete and person and for being willing to do what LIV asks of its players to grow the league. Of course, DeChambeau committed to playing out the remainder of his rookie contract and nothing more. What DeChambeau plans to do after 2026 is arguably golf’s greatest mystery. He has said he wants to re-sign with LIV, but noted that things are different after Koepka’s departure. He claims playing all four majors and YouTube golfing is “viable.” It’s all a negotiation tactic, and No one has had a greater impact on golf than DeChambeau has now. His loss, at any moment, would be a massive wound that would be difficult, if not impossible, for LIV to heal.
Rahm’s contract with LIV is longer and he would have to give up a lot of money to leave. Smith seems genuinely happy on the breakaway circuit. The PGA Tour was not awarded after a pass Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson and others. O’Neil said he would have offered a path back to Johnson, Mickelson, Carlos Ortiz and many others if he were the PGA Tour. The prediction is that LIV is more than the three names the PGA Tour has released publicly in a statement. They are full steam ahead, gas pedal down and unconcerned about their main rival. But the reality was clear. LIV has always been about big name value and losing any of them would weaken it tremendously.
For the first time since the split, it was LIV executives and players who were questioning whether they would stay. The status quo was not. The talking points were the same, but the sentiment was different. Rolapp’s first big move changed the momentum, and it’s obvious there is a new reality with him in charge.
One that started when he opened the door for Koepka, LIV’s first defector, to return to the PGA Tour, opening the possibility for LIV to lose even more in the future.
“I think I would have done the same thing, if it’s any consolation,” O’Neil said.
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