Following the announcement of the PGA Tour’s Returning Member Program on January 12, Brooks Koepka has been allowed to return to the U.S. Tour with immediate effect.

According to Flushing It, posted on X, on January 12, stated that an email had been sent to PGA Tour members indicating that Brooks Koepka would return at the Farmers Insurance Open under the Returning Member Program.

Under the program, Koepka must still deal with the outcomes tied to his 2022 exit.

What consequences will Brooks Koepka face

Under the PGA Tour’s framework, Brooks Koepka agreed to specific terms, including giving up any claim to the Tour’s Player Equity Program for a period of five years.

As a result, Koepka may give up an estimated $50–85 million, based on performance and the Tour’s growth, as noted in Brian Rolapp’s letter to fans.

Brooks Koepka will be ineligible to earn equity from the Player Equity Program for the next five years.

Therefore, he will not receive equity grants tied to on-course performance within PGA Tour Enterprises, the for-profit entity that manages the Tour’s commercial assets.

In addition, Koepka will not receive any payments from the FedExCup Bonus Program for the 2026 season; as a result, the PGA Tour estimates that Brooks Koepka could forgo approximately $51–85 million in Potential earnings.

Brooks Koepka confirmed his acceptance of the penalties in a post shared on Instagram, saying:

“I believe in where the PGA Tour is headed with new leadership, new investors, and an equity program that gives players a meaningful ownership stake. I also understand there are financial penalties associated with this decision.”

What are the Possibilities for Bryson DeChambeau

Bryson DeChambeau told Tom Hobbs in an interview shared on the Flushing It account on X in late December:

“Everyone knows I’m in talks with LIV about an extension. We’ll see how it goes.”

DeChambeau's statement has led to speculation about DeChambeau’s future with LIV Golf. 

The Returning Member Program applies to LIV Golf players who have been absent from the PGA Tour for more than two years and have won a major championship or The Players Championship between 2022 and 2025. 

Eligible players under the program include Brooks Koepka, Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cameron Smith. 

Bryson DeChambeau secured the U.S. Open in 2024, which qualifies him under the program’s major-winner provision.

Although Bryson DeChambeau remains eligible for the PGA Tour Returning Member Program, he confirmed on December 28 that he will stay with LIV Golf.

DeChambeau made the statement in comments shared by Flushing It on X:

“Keeping this core together for 2026 positions us to build on the momentum we carried out of 2025.”

Written by

Aditi Singh

Edited by

Oajaswini Prabhu