The ex-LIV Golf star could lose up to $90m by avoiding a one-year ban and teeing up at the Farmers Insurance Open later this month
Brooks Koepka is returning to the PGA Tour after four years on LIV Golf(Image: Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images)
Former LIV Golf star Brooks Koepka claimed he is “nervous” and “excited” about returning to the PGA Tour this month.
And the five-time Major champion insisted he is paying a “harsh penalty financially” – which could reach $90m – instead of serving a one-year ban.
The former world No.1 is the first to take advantage of the new Returning Member Program which applies only to players who have won a Major or The Players Championship since 2022. The offer is also available to Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Cam Smith until February 2 – other names who will bring star quality back to the PGA Tour.
READ MORE: Brooks Koepka’s PGA Tour return explained: From LIV Golf exit to Returning Member ruleREAD MORE: What $60m Brooks Koepka return means for the PGA Tour, LIV Golf and Bryson DeChambeau
Koepka acknowledged some players who remained loyal to the PGA Tour will be “angry” about his return only a month after he quit LIV Golf on December 23.
The American, now world No.244, will play his first regular event on the PGA Tour since March 2022 at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines on January 29.
“The first week I’ll be a little bit nervous,” Koepka admitted. “There’s a lot more going on than just golf. I’ll be glad to put the first week behind me – dealing with the media, dealing with the players, and then getting some of those tougher conversations. But I’m looking forward to it.
“Am I nervous? Yes. Am I excited? Yes. In a weird way, I want to have those conversations.
“I’ve got a lot of work to do with some of the players. There’s definitely guys who are happy, and definitely guys who will be angry. It’s a harsh punishment financially. I understand exactly why the tour did that — it’s meant to hurt. But it (his departure) hurt a lot of people.
“There’s probably a mixed bag of, ‘We’re happy you’re back, welcome home’ to ‘You shouldn’t be here.’ I understand everybody’s point of view.
“If anyone is upset, I need to rebuild those relationships. I was going to be sitting out possibly a year, and I’m extremely thankful the tour gave me this opportunity.”
This sense of resentment could also extend to fans. Koepka’s second event will be the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale with the notoriously rowdy 16th hole.
“I can handle it,” he said. “I enjoy the crowd, and hopefully everybody is happy to see me. They can’t be mad at me forever.”
Koepka has agreed to donate $5m to charity, will be ineligible for FedExCup bonus money in 2026 and will have to qualify for the $20m Signature Events. Most importantly, he will have no participation in the PGA Tour Equity Program – where loyal players will be given shares to compensate for not taking the LIV cash- for the next five years. PGA Tour executive Brian Rolapp estimates that could cost him from $50m to $85m.
Koepka, who met with Rolapp last week, said: “There was no negotiating. It’s meant to hurt, it does hurt, but I understand. It’s not supposed to be an easy path. There’s a lot of people that were hurt by it when I left, and I understand that’s part of coming back.”
Koepka has previously revealed his LIV signing-on fee was nine figures – ie over $100m – though it is not clear if he will have to pay any money back.
His wife Jena Sims suffered a miscarriage last year. “I needed to be there with my family over the last few months,” Koepka said. “I needed to be closer to home,” Koepka said. “I was able to get out of the LIV contract, everything lined up perfectly and I was able to get back on tour. I’m happy and grateful it was able to come to this.”
