All articles tagged with #koepka
Brooks Koepka will switch to a Scotty Cameron Fastback 1.5 putter ahead of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson to fix a short-game hiccup after a rough finish at the PGA Championship; he’s been working on alignment and grip, and the blade-like feel with more toe hang on the new putter could help him regain confidence and momentum as he faces a renovated TPC Craig Ranch.
Brooks Koepka says returning to the PGA Tour has highlighted how different LIV Golf life is, notably the absence of equipment trucks and manufacturer support after parting with Dunlop/Srixon/Cleveland. Now a free agent under the Returning Member Program, he’s chasing full PGA Tour status while competing in the Oneflight Myrtle Beach Classic and eyeing a sixth major at the PGA Championship.
Golf legend Tom Watson criticized the PGA Tour for breaking its promise to ban LIV Golf players as Brooks Koepka returns under a Returning Member Program with conditions (a $5 million charity fine, restricted sponsor invites, and a five-year limit on the Equity program). He argues LIV defectors violated sponsor protections and should have faced a longer ban, while Patrick Reed’s path back is different and could yield full PGA Tour status in 2027 if he meets the DP World Tour criteria.
Brooks Koepka returns to the PGA Tour after leaving LIV Golf, with Tiger Woods helping pave his path back as part of a broader Tour plan approved by the board; the deal includes a $5 million charitable contribution (to be finalized), no FedEx Cup bonus this year, no equity shares for five years, and restrictions on the $20 million signature events until he qualifies. Koepka, who cited family reasons for leaving LIV, says he’s grateful and nervous to compete again, with his first PGA Tour start back coming at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines and Woods advocating for the move as beneficial to the tour and its players.
ESPN will broadcast live PGA Tour action for the first time since 2006, featuring Brooks Koepka’s return at the Farmers Insurance Open. The network will show first- and second-round coverage on its linear channels with an expanded Main Feed and extra cameras, while ESPN+ continues to offer PGA Tour Live. The 12–3 p.m. ET broadcast on ESPN preempts Pat McAfee and part of SportsCenter, with Golf Channel taking over at 3 p.m.; the event will also be available on Disney+, Hulu. This move reflects the PGA Tour’s evolving media strategy under new CEO Brian Rolapp as Koepka’s comeback draws wide interest.
Brooks Koepka will resume his PGA Tour career via a one-time Returning Member Program that imposes a $5 million charitable donation and bars equity gains and FedEx Cup bonuses for five years, while requiring him to earn his way into signature events; the program is limited to players who have won majors or The Players from 2022–2025, meaning Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith could return, with decisions due in three weeks. He will be exempt through 2028 based on his 2023 PGA Championship victory and will compete in the Farmers Insurance Open, though he cannot receive sponsor exemptions for the $20m signature events.
The PGA Tour has created a Returning Member Program to allow elite players like Brooks Koepka to rejoin after LIV Golf, with penalties including a $5 million charity contribution, no FedExCup money in 2026, no sponsor exemptions to big events, and no equity on the tour for five years. Koepka plans to return at the Farmers Insurance Open (Torrey Pines) on Jan. 29 and says he expects mixed receptions while needing to rebuild relationships with players hurt by his departure.
Brooks Koepka’s return to the PGA Tour under the Returning Member Program marks a turning point in the LIV vs. PGA Tour feud, signaling a strategic reassertion by the Tour as LIV’s disruption falters and its promise of a widely watched, innovative calendar fails to materialize.
Brooks Koepka is returning to the PGA Tour five weeks after leaving LIV Golf, under a one-time Returning Member Program that imposes a $5 million charity donation and significant restrictions—no equity grants for five years, no FedEx Cup bonus money in 2026, and limited access to signature events unless earned—with plans to play the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines and a path back to major events through performance.
Brooks Koepka will return to the PGA Tour at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January under a one-time returning-member program after leaving LIV Golf. He will donate $5 million to charity, forego 2026 FedExCup bonus payments, and be ineligible for the Tour’s player equity program from 2026–30, a move the Tour says could cost him $50–85 million. The window also opens potential recalls for Rahm, DeChambeau and Smith before the February 2 deadline; Phil Mickelson remains ineligible. Koepka will also play the Phoenix Open and must participate in at least 15 co-sponsored/approved events in 2026.