Brooks Koepka’s PGA Tour comeback was all about timing

Brooks Koepka’s return to the PGA Tour it was made possible by a multitude of factors, but it really sank in time.

Five-time Grand Champion officially parted ways with LIV Golf on Dec. 23 and announced to the PGA Tour that he wanted to return to the place he once called home. As the first star to leave LIV Golf, Koepka’s name value and the symbolism of his departure were reason enough for the PGA Tour to find a way to open the door for him. But the fact that the decision was left to new PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp, rather than outgoing commissioner Jay Monahan, was an important factor.

In the last episode of GOLF’s Podcast subparco-hosts Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz discussed how Rolapp being in charge made Koepka’s comeback possible.

“That’s why I think it’s great timing with Brian Rolapp coming in,” Stoltz said. “There’s nothing like when the PGA Tour and LIV first started. There were basically two camps — the PGA Tour or LIV. It got heated. People leaving, the social media messages they got, it was bad. Rolapp wasn’t around for any of that. He’s been an NFL guy. He’s like, ‘Oh, I can bring one of our players back to the world, ‘Oh, I can bring one of our players back to the world, he’s not currently on the tour. ours, and it makes us better.

“I don’t think that would happen if the same leadership was in place now. It wasn’t Brian Rolapp, I don’t think that would be the case.”

Added Knost: “This guy doesn’t care about the past. He says, ‘What can I do to make this product better?’ big. He’s a five-time major. I’m sorry, not everyone is treated the same. That’s why this little category they just created has four people in it.”

To bring Koepka back, Rolapp created a limited path called The returned member Program. This program allows any player who won a major or players between 2022 and 2025 to return to the PGA Tour, with a financial penalty. The route, which is open to Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Cameron Smith, closes on February 2nd.

All three of those players have already stated they will remain with LIV Golf, but Stolz believes the elite players will be able to return to the PGA Tour at another time if they choose. If Rolapp can make the PGA Tour product better, he will.

“Let’s say they don’t jump during the window, but later in the season they say, ‘Hey, I think I’m ready to come back.’ If the name is big enough and there’s only a few of them out there, I think they’ll take whatever they want to bring them back,” Stoltz said.

To hear more from Stoltz and Knost, watch the full subparagraph below.

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