Windham Clark expressed concerns about Brooks Koepka returning to the PGA Tour after leaving LIV Golf.
Windham Clark welcomes Brooks Koepka back to the PGA Tour, but admitted he was nervous about how easy the process was.
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This rule is divisive among players. For Windham-Clark, the issue is less personal and more about fairness in sport.
Photo by Harry Howe/Getty Images
Windham Clark ‘torn’ over Brooks Koepka’s return
2023 U.S. Open champion Windham Clark said on SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio that he is conflicted about the decision.
His comments highlight the continuing tensions surrounding players returning from LIV Golf, especially under the Tour’s latest policy.
“I personally really like Brooks and ultimately think it’s a very good thing for the PGA Tour,” Clark said. “But it’s so heartbreaking because it’s kind of frustrating that he gets to have his cake and eat it too.”
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“If I had told you that I could study abroad for a year and a half and come back and make a lot of money, I think most people would have done it.”
Clark’s words highlight the gulf between loyalty and opportunity. He turned down the LIV offer after winning a major, choosing to remain on the PGA Tour during the most uncertain of times.
Brooks Koepka’s return divides opinion
Brooks Koepka’s appearance at the Farmers Insurance Open later this month will be his first under the PGA Tour’s new Returning Member Program.
Under the policy, introduced this year, players who have been away for more than two years will be allowed to rejoin the team if they have won a major in the past four seasons.
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The Returning Member Program requires former players to forfeit their stock for five years, skip the 2026 FedEx Cup bonus and donate $5 million to charity. The PGA Tour views this as a middle ground between punishment and reconciliation.
Clark’s perspective captures the mixed emotions of the PGA Tour as a whole. He supports Koepka’s talent and understands the value of having a big name back.
Still, he is concerned about how quickly the path to return was cleared. His views reflect a sport still searching for a balance between loyalty, money and second chances.
Read more: Greg Norman talks about Brooks Koepka’s true feelings about team golf after leaving LIV
