Brooks Koepka Feared His Scottish Open Plans Had Fallen Apart
BMW PGA, Golf Herren Championship 2025 Brooks Koepka on the 6th green during Round 2 at the BMW PGA Championship, Wentworth Club, Virginia Water, Surrey, England. 12/09/2025 Picture: Golffile Steve Flynn All photo usage must carry mandatory copyright credit Golffile Steve Flynn Virgina Water Wenworth Club Surrey England Copyright: xStevexFlynnx *EDI*,
BMW PGA, Golf Herren Championship 2025 Brooks Koepka on the 6th green during Round 2 at the BMW PGA Championship, Wentworth Club, Virginia Water, Surrey, England. 12/09/2025 Picture: Golffile Steve Flynn All photo usage must carry mandatory copyright credit Golffile Steve Flynn Virgina Water Wenworth Club Surrey England Copyright: xStevexFlynnx *EDI*,
Brooks Koepka spent two hours last Sunday in a state of panic, convinced he was not going to play in the Genesis Scottish Open. Text messages told him he had withdrawn, and his manager was unreachable.
Koepka is competing at The Renaissance Club this week. The event is at the $9 million Rolex Series event. Tournament officials initially listed Koepka as a withdrawal before granting him a sponsor's invitation.
It is his first appearance at The Renaissance Club and his first Scottish Open since 2015.
He described the chaos to reporters. "I called my agent, Blake Smith, in a bit of a panic," Koepka said per a transcript by ASAP Sports.
"Because I got a few text messages that I had withdrawn, and then I went on the ... what do we call it, like the PGA Tour, our little app? Probably first time I used it in a while, since it got downloaded in my phone. I didn't see any name, either, and I was in a little bit of a panic. I knew he [Smith] was out in Vegas. It's 7.00 am in Vegas. Probably not going to reach anybody. There was a few, probably two hours, of complete panic of what had gone on. I couldn't figure it out."
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL - MARCH 13: Brooks Koepka of the United States plays a tee shot on the ninth hole during THE PLAYERS Championship on March 13, 2026 at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fl. Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire GOLF: MAR 13 PGA, Golf Herren THE PLAYERS Championship EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon260313045120
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL - MARCH 13: Brooks Koepka of the United States plays a tee shot on the ninth hole during THE PLAYERS Championship on March 13, 2026 at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fl. Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire GOLF: MAR 13 PGA, Golf Herren THE PLAYERS Championship EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon260313045120
Koepka left LIV Golf in December 2025, with several months remaining on his contract. He re-joined the PGA Tour through a returning member program.
Several of his former LIV peers are also at The Renaissance Club this week, including Jon Rahm, making his first PGA Tour appearance since the 2023 Tour Championship. The PGA Tour co-sanctions the event, making Rahm eligible to compete.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and Masters champion Rory McIlroy are also in the field, with most using the tournament as preparation for next week's Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.
Brooks Koepka on Life Since Leaving LIV
Since leaving LIV Golf and returning to the PGA Tour at the start of 2026, Brooks Koepka has said that his priorities have changed.
While he remains focused on winning, he has repeatedly explained that spending more time with his family was the biggest reason behind his decision to leave LIV Golf and return to the PGA Tour.
Koepka has described feeling happier after the move, saying the biggest change is being able to spend more time with his wife, Jena Sims, and their son. He said the pressure he once felt has eased because his family is with him at tournaments, giving him a healthier perspective on golf.
Koepka explained that whether he shoots a great score or a poor one, seeing his wife and son waiting for him after every round reminds him that golf is not everything.
Earlier this season, Koepka withdrew from the 2026 RBC Canadian Open before the final round because of a hand injury that affected his grip.
What do you think about Koepka's return to the PGA Tour? Let us know in the comments!
Written by
Sneha Abraham