The big winners and losers after Brooks Koepka's PGA Tour return

So it's official. Brooks Koepka is coming back to the PGA Tour. 

It feels kind of seismic, doesn’t it? Personally I’m not so sure. Although I do think there are some clear winners and losers here.

Lets take a look, shall we?

What is The PGA Tour's Returning Member Program?

PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp has come up with a ‘Returning Member Program’ after releasing a statement that I first saw on Instagram around three minutes after it was posted. A lot of it landed pretty well, if truth be told. The PGA Tour, as far as Koepka was concerned, seemed to hold all the cards as the five-time major champion clearly made his intentions clear - he wanted back on the tour. 

The tour welcomed him back with open arms - if open arms is a five year forfeiture of potential equity in the PGA Tour’s player equity programme and a $5 million donation to the tour's chosen charity. 

The most interesting part about the statement from Rolapp is that the door was also left open for others to come back to the PGA Tour in a similar fashion - or was it?

"Other eligible players interested in seeking PGA Tour reinstatement must do so by the time the Returning Member Program closes on Monday, Feb. 2. This is a one-time, defined window and does not set a precedent for future situations. Once the door closes, there is no promise that this path will be available again."

Essentially, if you want to come back then you have to make that move in the next three weeks.

For the likes of Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson, that option doesn't exist, with only three major winners since 2022 being eligible.

Could Bryson DeChambeau or Jon Rahm Leave LIV Golf?

Those three being Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith (remember him?), as they, including Koepka, are the only players that are actually eligible to make their way back via the ‘Returning Member Program’, or as I’d like to now call it the ‘Returning if We Want You Back Member Program’. 

Could any of them follow suit? As players left for the gazillions of dollars that were being chucked about by LIV and, let's face it, probably the promise of lots of other things that have never happened, after one of its biggest stars wanted out, that is a position of strength for the PGA Tour.

Why Has Brooks Koepka Rejoined The PGA Tour?

And what for Koepka himself?

I’m a little confused by this one from his perspective. 

Left to play less golf, earn more money, have more time at home. He was one of LIV Golf’s biggest stars. So why now? Why make those financial sacrifices to come back to the tour?

Is it simply a case of he thought the grass was greener?

I think I am waiting for that first press conference with baited breath. 

What Does it Mean For LIV Golf?

For LIV, it’s a big loss, they responded with a statement saying all the usual things, talking about championing an open ecosystem and retaining a vision to grow the game of golf globally, but they can't hide away from the fact that one of their top players and team captains has gone running back to the tour with his tail between his legs doing whatever they have asked in order to get back on - and if anyone else follows, what does it mean for LIV Golf going forward?

Who Are The Biggest Winners And Losers?

Who is the real winner in all this?

Based on the fact that LIV seems to be the only thing that has lost anything here, they sit bottom of the pile I’m afraid. 

For Koepka - the jury is still out, if he comes back and smashes the PGA Tour, or wins another major, then you can claim he is a big winner in all this. But at the moment, I’m not so sure whether it’s a great look for him. 

The PGA Tour is a winner, they get a global golf star back on their circuit, on their terms, with a door slightly ajar for others to do the same - and only names they really want. 

Another winner is clearly the guys at Farmers Insurance and Torrey Pines, because on the 29th January 2026, Brooks Koepka will tee it up on the PGA Tour for the first time since 2022 and vast numbers of golf fans will be tuning in (I’d have assumed) to see him make his comeback in San Diego. 

The overall winner, however, is the fans. Because the one thing I think we can all agree on is that we want to see the world's best golfers playing against each other more often than not and this feels like a big step forward in that happening, especially should either Rahm or DeChambeau follow Koepka back to the PGA Tour (sorry Cam Smith, nothing personal).

Personally, I can't wait to see how this all unfolds between now and Monday 2nd February.