Brooks Koepka has become the first LIV Golf star to jump ship, and now all eyes are on the PGA Tour and its players to see how they will respond.
The PGA Tour released a statement when Brooks Koepka left LIV, which did nothing but keep their intentions shrouded in mystery.
“Brooks Koepka is a highly accomplished professional, and we wish him and his family continued success,” their statement read. “The PGA TOUR continues to offer the best professional golfers the most competitive, challenging, and lucrative environment in which to pursue greatness.”
In addition to their thinly veiled jab at the Saudi-backed league, the PGA Tour appears to be leaving the door wide open for Koepka’s return. In doing so, they could encourage more star names, such as Jon Rahm, to follow Koepka.
But what about all the PGA Tour players who remained loyal? Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and other superstars turned down millions to stay, so how would they react if Koepka can take the money from LIV then come back unpunished?
PGA Tour winner Michael Kim gave us some insight on how PGA Tour players feel about Koepka’s potential return.
How Michael Kim says PGA Tour players would react to Brooks Koepka return
Kim, who posted shocked emojis on X when the Koepka news broke, followed up with extensive thoughts on this bombshell announcement.
The 31-year-old posted: “ZERO insider knowledge but my two cents:
“-Pgatour puts out a super nothing statement lol. Obviously a statement to keep all options open.
“-I assume with LIV letting Brooks go, there’s an understanding that he doesn’t play anywhere in 26 except prob the majors.
Is this the end of LIV Golf?
“-Brooks is one of the well liked guys that went to LIV. I’m going to guess that he’s going to have less difficulty coming back than others especially with Brian Rolapp in charge. Brooks is a star and an important figure in golf. Wouldn’t be surprised to see Brooks playing a full tour schedule along with the big changes coming in a couple yrs.
“-Again, I have no intimate knowledge. Just a big guess.”
If Kim is right, then Koepka will play one season on the DP World Tour in order to regain his PGA Tour card. He played on the tour after the Ryder Cup, and it would be a reasonable compromise for the Tour instead of giving Koepka his card back immediately.
As for how the players would react, it certainly would help that Koepka is well-liked, but turning down that amount of money for seemingly no reason is bound to leave a sour taste in the mouth of at least a few players.
What Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods said about Brooks Koepka when he joined LIV Golf
He may be well-liked, but you’d be forgiven for not knowing that by looking at how the PGA Tour’s biggest stars reacted to Koepka signing with LIV. Especially because he apparently showed no signs of wanting to leave the PGA Tour just weeks before.
The ever-outspoken McIlroy, who has not been afraid to spit venom at those leaving for the Saudi-backed league, didn’t hold back on Koepka.
He said, “Am I surprised? Yes, because of what he said previously. I think that’s why I’m surprised at a lot of these guys, because they say one thing and then they do another, and I don’t understand.
“I don’t know if that’s for legal reasons or if they can’t – I have no idea – but it’s pretty duplicitous on their part to say one thing and then do another thing, in public and in private.”
Meanwhile, Tiger Woods slammed anyone joining LIV, accusing them of turning their backs on what got them to this position in the first place.
Which of these LIV Golf stars would you least like to see back on the PGA Tour?
The 15-time major winner said, “I don’t understand it. What is the incentive to practice and earn it in the dirt?’ I disagree with it. I think that what they’ve done is they’ve turned their back on what has allowed them to get to this position.
“But what these players are doing for guaranteed money, what is the incentive to practice?’ What is the incentive to go out there and earn it in the dirt? You’re just getting paid a lot of money up front and playing a few events and playing 54 holes.”
If these players feel half as strongly now as they did back then, things could be a little awkward if Koepka does return to the tour.