NEWS Brooks Koepka Back on PGA Tour?

[CBaker]

I'm not sure it's a path of least resistance because they just held a qualification tournament for wild card spots that had players from all around wanting to try and nothing was guaranteed.

I just think LIV offers something internationally that the PGAT doesn't and shouldn't be discounted as a money grab, because in the end, as much as the pros say they "love this game" I highly doubt any play for free or a reduced salary. IT's about the money and always will be when elite athletes are in a position to be compensated for their talents.

Oh absolutely its about the money. But compared to the tour, which is basically a fight for prize money for the most part, once you get there, it seems an easier on path on LIV for cashing the check than on the PGA tour. But yes, 100% about the money.

 

[MikeG]

I agree with him. Sure everyone wants to be rich and famous but golfers dream of Green jackets and claret jugs, just like baseball players grow up dreaming of playing in Wrigley&Fenway. Not playing in LIV golf Mayakoba or playing for the Hanoi Hamsters respectfully.

Again, the majors are not run by the tour and players can still play those and not be full time pGAT players

 

[Scooby45]

I bet we don't hear about LIV getting OWGR points until after Feb 2nd.

#rigged

I will fly to Arizona and personally caddy a round for you if LIV gets OWGR by Feb 2nd.

 

[Schick]

I'm excited for Brooks' return to the PGAT and hopeful after reading his twitter post(yes, i realize it could be 100% PR stunt) he may have found some humility and new appreciation for all of the Tour events, not just the Majors.

 

[Bernoulli]

Again, the majors are not run by the tour and players can still play those and not be full time pGAT players

Some people apparently think that everyone dreams of playing on the PGA Tour.

 

[smgoldstein]

If you are a kid on a practice putting green from Austin Texas or Brisbane Australia I'm pretty sure he is saying to himself "this putt is to win the Masters or Open" instead of "this putt is to win $4 million"

 

[MikeG]

If you are a kid on a practice putting green from Austin Texas or Brisbane Australia I'm pretty sure he is saying to himself "this putt is to win the Masters or Open" instead of "this putt is to win $4 million"

Correct and that has nothing to do with playing on the PGAT, or any other world tour for that matter.

 

[Wildcat]

If you are a kid on a practice putting green from Austin Texas or Brisbane Australia I'm pretty sure he is saying to himself "this putt is to win the Masters or Open" instead of "this putt is to win $4 million"

Or they could say to themselves "this putt is to win the Masters AND $4.2mm"

 

[Bernoulli]

Correct and that has nothing to do with playing on the PGAT, or any other world tour for that matter.

Absolutely correct.

 

[JB]

I agree with him. Sure everyone wants to be rich and famous but golfers dream of Green jackets and claret jugs, just like baseball players grow up dreaming of playing in Wrigley&Fenway. Not playing in LIV golf Mayakoba or playing for the Hanoi Hamsters respectfully.

Then why did young players with the choice choose LIV?
TM could have chosen either, qualified for both, he chose the money and LIV and the global aspects to it.

 

[mav52]

Only applies to Cam, Bryson, and Rahm.

And PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp has emphasized this is a one-time program and not a precedent for future situations. Once the window closes, that specific path back will not be available again. And Eligible players must apply for reinstatement by the deadline of February 2, 2026.
And the only active players eligible

• Brooks Koepka (who has already accepted the terms)
• Jon Rahm
• Bryson DeChambeau
• Cameron Smith

Good for Brooks.

 

[jvbart]

Excited to see Brooks back on tour, I hope we see a few more of the big names follow him back.

 

[MikeG]

the correct response from LIV

 

[JuicyJ]

Again, the majors are not run by the tour and players can still play those and not be full time pGAT players

And playing on LIV reduces your odds of getting into said Majors. Especially if the don’t get OWGR points eventually. I’d bet with you if there was some way to poll the top 200 amateurs in the world on where they would aspire to eventually play less than 10% would say LIV. The PGAT and DP would dominate their responses.
LIV is/was a Huge payday for a handful of good golfers, a soft landing for a bunch of guys that weren’t making any money on the PGA and at risk to lose their cards and a group of washed has beens that were looking for a final big payday without the effort of actually giving a damn about playing. (Looking at you DJ and Phil).

 

[JB]

And playing on LIV reduces your odds of getting into said Majors. Especially if the don’t get OWGR points eventually. I’d bet with you if there was some way to poll the top 200 amateurs in the world on where they would aspire to eventually play less than 10% would say LIV. The PGAT and DP would dominate their responses.
LIV is/was a Huge payday for a handful of good golfers, a soft landing for a bunch of guys that weren’t making any money on the PGA and at risk to lose their cards and a group of washed has beens that were looking for a final big payday without the effort of actually giving a damn about playing. (Looking at you DJ and Phil).

10% is not zero.
And one of, if not the highest ranked internationally, just chose LIV last year.

Its not really an opinion, it happened already.

 

[MikeG]

And playing on LIV reduces your odds of getting into said Majors. Especially if the don’t get OWGR points eventually. I’d bet with you if there was some way to poll the top 200 amateurs in the world on where they would aspire to eventually play less than 10% would say LIV. The PGAT and DP would dominate their responses.
LIV is/was a Huge payday for a handful of good golfers, a soft landing for a bunch of guys that weren’t making any money on the PGA and at risk to lose their cards and a group of washed has beens that were looking for a final big payday without the effort of actually giving a damn about playing. (Looking at you DJ and Phil).

The US Open and Open Championships are qualification events. A LIV player can enter the qualifiers and make it into one of those events. Then they can win one and they are Masters invitees along with the PGA. You don't need OWGR points to get in. Does it make it easier, it does, but it doesn't make it impossible.

 

[Wildcat]

And playing on LIV reduces your odds of getting into said Majors. Especially if the don’t get OWGR points eventually. I’d bet with you if there was some way to poll the top 200 amateurs in the world on where they would aspire to eventually play less than 10% would say LIV. The PGAT and DP would dominate their responses.
LIV is/was a Huge payday for a handful of good golfers, a soft landing for a bunch of guys that weren’t making any money on the PGA and at risk to lose their cards and a group of washed has beens that were looking for a final big payday without the effort of actually giving a damn about playing. (Looking at you DJ and Phil).

I can agree with the PGAT but my guess would be international players would rather participate in LIV now because of the paydays.

 

[Bernoulli]

I see Koepka is going to play in the Farmers and in Phoenix. That was quick,

 

[JuicyJ]

Then why did young players with the choice choose LIV?
TM could have chosen either, qualified for both, he chose the money and LIV and the global aspects to it.

An exception to the Rule. Just because one top am chooses the chucky cheese league doesn’t change the fact that 90% of them join the pipeline to the PGA

 

[Bernoulli]

I can agree with the PGAT but my guess would be international players would rather participate in LIV now because of the paydays.

The opinion that X amount of players would choose the PGA Tour is flawed because it assumes that nearly every non American would choose the PGA Tour.

 

[JB]

An exception to the Rule. Just because one top am chooses the chucky cheese league doesn’t change the fact that 90% of them join the pipeline to the PGA

It wasnt one top am. It was multiple.
And of course 90% join the PGA Tour pipeline, there are more chances.
But kids didnt just try to qualify for LIV last week for nothing.

The idea that nobody wants to play there globally and are in it for the dreams is complete crazy talk.

 

[MikeG]

An exception to the Rule. Just because one top am chooses the chucky cheese league doesn’t change the fact that 90% of them join the pipeline to the PGA

The flaw in your arguement is that it is not one top amateur. Three years in a row now, top talent has chosen LIV over the PGAT.

 

[JDax]

Yes. But I would also say that Brooks didn't enjoy the travel to those places and didn't seem to enjoy owning a team (not sure on the latter).

This season only has 4 US LIV events, Brooks didn't like that LIV was more focused on international growth, probably.

 

[smgoldstein]

Three years in a row now, top talent has chosen LIV over the PGAT.

I'm guessing one of the reasons is that if you are extended an invite to join LIV you don't have to qualify. Harder to get fully exempt for the PGA TOUR

 

[JB]

I'm guessing one of the reasons is that if you are extended an invite to join LIV you don't have to qualify. Harder to get fully exempt for the PGA TOUR

Also not completely accurate.
They literally just had their version of Q-School