In a strange twist of fate, those who made headlines and legitimized LIV golf off the PGA Tour four years ago now find themselves in a unique position to end that tour for good. As the PGA Tour announced Monday that it had created a new pathway. Brooks Koepka returns to PGA Touraccomplished more than hosting one of the game’s brightest stars.
Koepka left LIV Golf a few days before Christmas, saying he wanted to spend more time with his family in 2026. A statement from the league said the split was mutual, primarily touting Tara Gooch becoming captain of Smash GC, the LIV golf team Koepka previously led.
The PGA Tour responded to Koepka’s decision in a statement within minutes of his departure, calling him a “very accomplished professional” and saying the tour “continues to provide the best professional golfers with the most competitive, rewarding and lucrative environment in their pursuit of greatness.”
An internal conversation took place. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolup has met with Koepka multiple times. A meeting was held. A new pathway was created out of nothing. A majority approved and members were informed of the decision to reinstate on Monday. All of this happened during the three-week break leading up to the start of the 2026 season.
In doing so, the PGA Tour not only paved a quick path for Koepka to return without serving a one-year suspension, but also created an opportunity to deal a huge blow to a rival from which he may not be able to recover.
Koepka’s return to the PGA Tour could well be a blowback for LIV Golf, but it’s not a fatal blow considering the league previously poached the big-swinging Floridian. That chance has been given to three other players who suddenly became eligible to return through the PGA Tour’s Returning Membership Program: Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith.
Of course, no one knows if anyone or everyone will choose to take up the PGA Tour’s offer.
Rahm’s lucrative contract starts at the end of 2023, and it could be tough for him to get out of it even if he wanted to, and some believe he will.
DeChambeau is open to negotiations, and if he plays his cards right, he could become the richest golfer on the planet. Phil Mickelson once said that working with LIV Golf was a once-in-a-lifetime leverage opportunity. That word, “leverage?” DeChambeau has exactly that.
It appears Smith intends to remain in place to play alongside his fellow Australians on a relaxed schedule, but a return to the PGA Tour cannot be ruled out, especially if other top-level players leave before he does.
Without these three, what would be left of LIV Golf?
Do you find (mostly) world-travelers attending a raucous tournament in Australia that feels more like a concert than a golf event, even though it’s considered an annual event? Are players like Joaquin Niemann, Patrick Reed and Tyrell Hatton stranded in what can only be described as no-man’s land? Ah, the team. How could we forget about the Crushers? They may be EBITDA positive, but what will happen without DeChambeau?
These questions weren’t asked three weeks ago because LIV Golf and its backer, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, decided long ago that they would spend whatever money was needed to keep the league afloat. But with DeChambeau, Rahm and Smith having until Feb. 2, two days before the start of LIV Golf’s season, to decide on their futures, sport-defining change could come quickly.
After four years of an inter-sport battle that has divided the golf world — defections, meaningless meetings, grand proclamations, flash mobs, bizarre messages to set up even more bizarre announcements, and a lot of grandstanding with nothing to show for it — it could all come to an end over the next three weeks.
The ball is officially in DeChambeau, Rahm and Smith’s court, and it’s the PGA Tour that handed it to them.
