SAN DIEGO — Brooks Koepka’s first call after being released from his LIV Golf contract was to Tiger Woods. Three weeks later, the PGA Tour created his pathway back, starting this week at Torrey Pines.
Koepka admits he’s anxious for the week to end because of all the attention. His return to the PGA Tour brings a rare case of nerves for the five-time major champion.
“It feels a little bit different,” he said ahead of the Farmers Insurance Open, his first non-major PGA Tour event since March 2022. “I’m definitely a little bit more nervous this week just coming back. But it feels good. I’m super grateful to be back.”
Koepka cited family reasons for wanting out of LIV. His wife announced in early October she had suffered a pregnancy loss at 16 weeks.
Woods played a key role in Koepka’s return, working with other player-directors and CEO Brian Rolapp to develop a pathway back. But Koepka’s return comes with significant conditions.
He’s making a $5 million charity contribution, receives no FedEx Cup bonus money this year, and can’t access equity shares in the PGA Tour for five years — a value estimated at $50 million or more. He also can’t play the $20 million signature events until he qualifies on his own merit.
“I guess it’s a fresh start for me, which is cool,” Koepka said. “It’s just another chapter in my book. I’m excited for that. I feel like my game’s in pretty good shape and I want to see where it’s at. Obviously this week is a little bit different. Would just like to get this week over and just feel like I can start playing golf again.”
Woods, who once criticized LIV defectors for turning “their back on what has allowed them to get to this position,” is now the leading player voice on the PGA Tour board. Koepka explained why he reached out to Tiger first.
“I felt like Tiger was somebody that I’ve relied on in the past for questions and answers and how to deal with things and I felt like that was maybe the most comfortable call for me,” Koepka said.
Woods has supported the decision to bring Koepka back, saying it makes the PGA Tour stronger and ultimately raises value for players receiving equity shares. “It’s a win for everyone,” Woods said.
Scottie Scheffler, the world’s No. 1 player who shares the same manager as Koepka, also backs the move.
“I think it’s good getting someone back on tour that want to be back,” Scheffler said. “Brooks had a desire to come back to the tour. The last few months he certainly had a large desire to get back to the tour, and I’m glad that Brian and the team and the board was able to find an avenue for him to be able to get back and start competing out here again.”
What’s still uncertain is how fans will receive a player who left for LIV’s enormous paychecks. Koepka once confirmed his signing bonus was “nine figures.”
“Maybe I’m a little nervous about that as well, just to see how the fans respond to it,” Koepka said. “I hope that they’re excited. I hope that they’re happy that I’m out here.”
Just arriving at Torrey Pines felt surreal. There were hugs with Billy Horschel and Harris English on the range before he headed to the South Course to play the back nine with rookie Marcelo Rozo. Nearly half the players in the pro-am didn’t even have PGA Tour cards when Koepka left.
“There’s a lot of new faces,” Koepka said. “But excited to meet those guys and feel like I’m part of the tour.”
He returns to a tour undergoing significant transformation. Woods now leads the Future Competition Committee that’s reshaping the schedule to elevate every tournament. There are 11 events with prize money of at least $20 million, not counting the majors.
Is the tour better than when he left?
“I’m two days in,” Koepka said with a smile.
Justin Rose answered that question more directly when asked about Koepka’s return.
“We’ve all benefited from this chaos in one way or another,” Rose said. “It’s been good for tour players in the sense the powers that be pushed a little harder in our direction with equity in the tour and prize funds.
“But we need a premium product,” he said. “And this is the first time we’ve had someone who moves the needle come back our way.”
