It remains to be seen what the future holds for Brooks Koepka after it was announced on Tuesday that he has left LIV Golf ahead of the 2026 season.
Golf once again finds itself in uncharted territory. Brooks Koepka has become the first major champion to leave LIV Golf without being relegated. There had been speculation for some time that he was unhappy on LIV.
It is not yet clear where he will end up playing next. It appears that he is technically suspended from playing on the PGA Tour until 2027.
That could mean that he spends a year on the DP World Tour – where he has had success previously – or perhaps the PGA Tour could look at how they bend their own rules to ensure that he can return sooner.
Rory McIlroy will benefit if Brooks Koepka now returns to the PGA Tour
There is an argument that Rory McIlroy would benefit greatly if Koepka did make a swift comeback to the PGA Tour.
Regardless of what you think of LIV, there is surely no question now that the PGA Tour has weathered the storm and cemented its spot as the number one stage for the world’s best players.
So it should be no surprise if Koepka does look a lot more like his old self if he returns to the PGA Tour. And obviously, the 35-year-old is never to be discounted in the majors regardless of the form he is in.
That may be just what McIlroy needs after the most significant year of his career.
McIlroy experienced a hefty dip after winning The Masters. The Northern Irishman looked to be searching for his purpose, from a golfing perspective, after finally completing the Career Grand Slam.
The Ryder Cup certainly helped McIlroy snap out of his slump. But heading into 2026, the 36-year-old’s list of goals will look significantly different.
How Rory McIlroy reacted to Brooks Koepka winning the 2023 PGA Championship
Obviously, McIlroy will want to win more majors anyway. But having Koepka potentially being more competitive – he missed three major cuts in 2025 – could give McIlroy a little extra fire.
As shown in Full Swing, McIlroy was left feeling that he had a point to prove after Koepka moved ahead of him by winning his fifth major at the PGA Championship in 2023.
He has since moved level with Koepka with that triumph at Augusta National. But writing the American off in the four biggest events of the year is foolish.
So if McIlroy is still driven by the desire to be the most successful player of his era in terms of how many majors he has won – and obviously, Scottie Scheffler is catching up at a rapid rate – then having Koepka back at his best could give him the kind of extra edge he lacked in the weeks after his win at Augusta National.