The new PGA Tour season officially kicked off with the Sony Open on Thursday, but the biggest news of the week came on Monday, when the PGA Tour announced Returning Member Program and, even bigger, that Brooks Koepka had already accepted and will return to the Tour this month.
In short, the offer is simple: The PGA Tour will allow major winners or winners of the Players Championship from 2022 to rejoin the PGA Tour with certain penalties and conditions. That criteria narrows the list down to just four LIV Golf players: Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Cameron Smith and Koepka.
Koepka, we already know, has accepted. Others have until February 2, 2026 to decide.
So will anyone get it? The trio said no during LIV press conferences earlier this weekalthough their tones left room for skepticism.
This was a major theme GOLF’s Subpar Podcast this week, with hosts Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz talking about it. Stoltz also asked Knost the important question everyone is asking right now: Do you think anyone else will roll over and join the PGA Tour?
“Yes,” Knost said. “I think at least one. That’s just my honest opinion. I don’t know anything. I talked to Jon Rahm about it. Obviously he’s not going to tell me anything about it. He’s focused on LIV right now. But I think it’s definitely going to make him think a little bit.”
“The PGA Tour is basically forcing their hand — if you want to come back, do it now,” Stoltz added. “I’m very curious to see what’s going to happen. Also, it’s a big blow to LIV. They lose one of their marquee guys and he’s allowed to come right back. And now just the distraction for these guys to be asked, ‘What do you think of Brooks? Are you thinking about going back?’ I think (the PGA Tour) made the right decision.”
Knost said it’s already a big loss for LIV and has the potential to get worse.
“I think it just absolutely destroys them,” he said. “On the other hand, the only thing is, it might upset LIV. PIF? Endless money. They might say you know what, you’re going to do this with us, OK fine, we’re opening our checkbook, tell us the biggest number, whatever you want, come here and we can relax and play this money game all you want and you’re not going to say that way, if they can lose. an option.”
For more on the PGA Tour’s returning member program and to hear the interview with Subpar guest Kip Henley, click here to listen to the podcast or watch it to YouTube below.
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