Five-time major champion Brooks Koepka has returned to the PGA Tour, but the path behind that decision traces back through uncertainty, knowing a delay was possible.

“No. I understood when I contacted them. I knew there was a possibility I could be out for a while," Koepka said while speaking to reporters after the first round of the Farmers Insurance Open.

"But it’s just like anything; if there’s a penalty to be paid to get out of here and get back, I was going to do whatever the Tour needed me to do. It was very simple. Whatever they wanted, I was willing to do," he added.

However, once Brooks Koepka made his intention clear, Brian Rolapp and Tour leadership moved forward with a process that had likely been considered earlier for a possible return scenario. 

As the first to pursue that path, Koepka set it in motion, and the Tour responded with the Returning Member Program, a one-time pathway created by the PGA Tour that allows players who departed for LIV Golf to return to the Tour.

As part of the return terms, Brooks Koepka agreed to a $5 million donation to a charity selected jointly with the PGA Tour.

In addition, he will be ineligible for the Player Equity Program from 2026 through 2030, removing access to ownership stakes in PGA Tour Enterprises and significant potential earnings.

He will also forfeit any bonus money earned from the FedEx Cup in 2026. Finally, Koepka will not receive sponsor exemptions into Signature Events and must qualify for those tournaments through on-course results.

With Brooks Koepka becoming the first player to use the program, attention has now shifted to the 2026 Dubai Desert Classic winner, who has shown interest in taking the same path.

After Brooks Koepka, Patrick Reed Signals Interest in the Same Route

Patrick Reed has announced he will leave LIV Golf before the start of the 2026 season. As a result, he joins Brooks Koepka in shifting focus to the PGA Tour. In the meantime, Reed will compete on the DP World Tour.

“I will continue to compete and play as an honorary lifetime ­member on the DP World Tour, which is ­something that I am truly honored and excited to do. I’m a traditionalist at heart, and I was born to play on the PGA Tour.”

During his post-tournament media conference in Dubai, Patrick Reed said he had not yet committed to LIV Golf for the season.

Earlier, he joined the Saudi Arabia-backed league in 2022 under a multi-year agreement. Then, in a statement released on Wednesday, the 2018 Masters winner outlined the reasons behind his decision to move on.

After discussions with his family, Patrick Reed said he has decided to step away from LIV Golf. 

As a result, he confirmed plans to return to the PGA Tour as a past champion member for the 2027 season, while also noting that he will be eligible to begin competing in PGA Tour events later this year.

Written by

Aditi Singh

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi