Koepka Returns to PGA Tour

Brooks Koepka Rejoins PGA Tour

Brooks Koepka is set to rejoin the PGA Tour. In an open letter to players the PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp laid out the ‘Returning Member Program’ which contains eligibility criteria and membership conditions for Koepka’s return. Those criteria would also allow Jon Rahm, Cam Smith, and Bryson DeChambeau to return to the PGA Tour however the offer is only open until February 2.

The eligibility criteria are that a player must have won The Players Championship or a Major between 2022 & 2025.

Koepka's conditions of PGA Tour membership include that he has forfeited the right to the players equity program for five years. This potentially costs him USD$50-80M. He must make a donation to charity of $5m. It is also reported that Koepka cannot receive invites to signature events and is ineligible for this year’s FedExCup bonus pay-outs. He can play President’s Cup and TGL.

Koepka acknowledged he had a lot of work to do to regain the trust of his PGA Tour competitors. "I have a lot of work to do with some of the players. There are definitely guys who are happy, and definitely guys who will be angry. It is a harsh punishment, financially. I understand exactly why the Tour did that - it's meant to hurt, but it [Koepka leaving] hurt a lot of people. If anyone is upset, I need to rebuild those relationships."

The conditions on membership appear significant but there will be plenty of current PGA players who are angry that someone walked away for a reported $100m, earned over $50m and is allowed back with the only ‘fine’ being a $5M donation to charity. The other financial penalties do not actually involve Koepka paying any money.

I wonder what Xander Schauffele, Brian Harmon, Justin Thomas, JJ Spaun and Wyndham Clarke are thinking. They fit the current criteria for a return if they leave the Tour. Why wouldn’t they front LIV and take some big $$ and know the door will probably open back up.

Seems like a pretty good deal.