What next for Brooks Koepka?

Much has been said and written regarding Brooks Koepka’s decision not to renew his LIV Golf contract. In truth, most of it has been ill-judged and ill-informed. Indeed, some of it is simply the stuff of fantasy. The social media trolls have also grabbed the opportunity to tell us that LIV’s money is running out and that it is in crisis - that is utter nonsense.

For the time being, his future remains uncertain, although it has emerged that Koepka has applied to have his PGA Tour membership reinstated. This is a five-time major champion and no matter what you may think of LIV, we should welcome his return.

But where and when will that be?

Could Brooks Koepka Return to The PGA Tour in 2026?

Koepka will know that he is not going to be able to simply walk back on to the PGA Tour. There has been talk of him having to serve a suspension that would last until September. That would not affect his ability to play in the majors.

There are some who believe he should be treated as a special case by the PGA Tour, but that is surely not going to happen. If they allowed him to return immediately without any form of penalty there would be a huge outcry among the golfers who have remained faithful to the tour - and they would have plenty of support.

There have been suggestions that he should have to prove his worth on the KornFerry Tour and play his way back on to the main tour. That is also surely a non-starter.

Should Brooks Koepka Face a Penalty?

They could fine him but unless the penalty imposed was huge it would be pretty meaningless for a sportsman who is a millionaire many, many times over.

The PGA Tour is stuck between a rock and a hard place when it comes to Koepka. They want him back, of course they do. And they want him back soon. There will also be pressure coming from sponsors who will want to see him competing in their events. And it is fair to say that most golf fans will welcome him back. 

What Does Rory McIlroy Think?

Rory McIlroy, who has been a vocal critic of LIV, has of course softened his stance and has made it clear he will welcome Koepka back with open arms.

On a recent appearance on the Stick to Football podcast, McIlroy said: "I think they’ve already paid their consequence. They’ve made the money but they’ve paid their consequence in terms of the reputation and some of the things they’ve lost by going over there."

And he told the Palm Beach Post: "Does it make sense if Brooks wanted to play the PGA Tour again to get him back as soon as possible? Absolutely. What Brooks has done in the game of golf, it would be good for everyone to have him back."

You will not be surprised to learn that not everybody agrees with McIlroy. And you may be even less surprised to discover that chief among those is the controversial Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee, who had plenty to say on the subject.

He said on his podcast: "McIlroy is a well-informed and a very smart guy. I would just say that institutions that forget about the cost of disruption invite repetition, and so for that reason I think the PGA Tour needs to be careful about setting a precedent here.

"To allow Brooks to come back with no consequence would undermine the meritocratic foundations that are the one thing that makes the PGA Tour legitimate. It’s not about retributions. It’s about setting a precedent.

"Institutions protect themselves by having rules that apply even to elite players - especially to elite players. The PGA Tour is not just a showcase for great talent. It’s an institution, and they function only if commitment has meaning, contracts have meaning, defection has consequences, and loyalty is not optional for elite players.

"To allow Brooks to come back with no consequence would undermine the meritocratic foundations that are the one thing that makes the PGA Tour legitimate. It’s not about retributions. It’s about setting a precedent.

"If they allow Brooks to come back after leaving and causing or contributing to the disruption of the game and normalising defection to LIV, the message will be clear that the rules only apply to the expendable and not to the exceptional. I think that’s corrosive."

The Consequences of Brooks Koepka's Potential Return to The PGA Tour

It is abundantly clear to me that the PGA Tour are well aware of the consequences of Koepka’s return and there is little doubt in my mind that plenty of negotiations will be going on behind the scenes.

Speculation is rife that he could opt to spend the bulk of the year playing on the DP World Tour, which he can do by reapplying for membership. He would probably have to pay a fine in order to do so, but the DP World Tour is in no position to prevent him, given that so many LIV golfers are already playing in their marquee tournaments.

But there is another issue at play here that nobody seems to have taken into account. 

When Koepka left LIV he gave as one of his main reasons the fact that he wanted to spend more time with his family. 

If that really is the case then it would surely rule out any prospect of him playing on the DP World Tour. Remember that the LIV circuit consists of just 14, 54-hole tournaments in 2025. If Koepka returns to the PGA Tour, he is going to be expected to play in more than 14 events, that’s for sure.