Did the PGA Tour bend its rule?

A new Returning Member Program has been announced on January 12 by the PGA Tour, and as a result, a limited number of LIV Golf players will be eligible to rejoin the circuit within the next month.

Who are the eligible players for the returning member program

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

Under this program, the eligible players include Brooks Koepka, Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cameron Smith.

Brooks Koepka became the first LIV Golf player to win a major by claiming the 2023 PGA Championship, which qualified him for the PGA Tour’s Returning Member Program and allows him to return for the 2026 season.

While other players secured major titles during the eligibility window, their wins also met the criteria for the program. 

Cameron Smith won The Open Championship in 2022 at St Andrews, Jon Rahm claimed the Masters Tournament in 2023, and Bryson DeChambeau captured the U.S. Open in 2024.

“This is a one-time, defined window and does not set a precedent for future situations. Once the door closes, there is no promise that this path will be available again,” Brian Rolapp wrote in a letter to fans on January 12.

What are the limitations of the returning member program

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

The returning players 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.

The PGA Tour referred to the financial penalties for returning members as “heavy, appropriate conditions”; accordingly, Brooks Koepka is required to make a $5 million charitable donation as part of his reinstatement (a condition Koepka has accepted).

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.

How will Brooks Koepka return to the PGA Tour

After competing at the Farmers Insurance Open, Koepka is set to play the WM Phoenix Open the following week and appear at The Players Championship in March.

However, Koepka must qualify for Signature Events and will not be eligible for sponsor exemptions.

As a result of his return through the Returning Member Program, Brooks Koepka must earn entry into Signature Events through on-course performance and will not be eligible for sponsor exemptions for those tournaments.

Written by

Aditi Singh

Edited by

Oajaswini Prabhu