Brooks Koepka’s return to the PGA Tour asks LIV questions it hasn’t had to answer before

LIV Golf arrived in early 2022 with an open letter from then-CEO and Commissioner Greg Norman.

“We consider ourselves a start-up,” Norman said in the letter ahead of the launch of LIV Golf. “We may start with a modest number of players, but that won’t remain that way for long. I fully understand that some players may choose not to play with us right away. But once we get going, I believe many of those not with us now will be with us later. I want to thank you for your patience, but know that it will be worth it.”

Stars like Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka jumped to the Saudi-backed league and the professional golf world splintered. The arrival of LIV Golf and its ability to attract top talent left the PGA Tour on the back foot at the start of the golf civil conflict as it tried to keep its remaining stars on the side of the aisle.

Cam Smith left for LIV after winning the 2022 Open Championship, and the flood slowed to a trickle after that. Jon Rahm’s defection at the end of 2023 was the last major blow dealt by LIV.

LIV arrived and presented itself as a disruptor. As with all start-ups, the idea was to be agile, move fast and break things – with the existing structure of pro golf at the top of the list.

But on Monday, the PGA Tour turned the tables on LIV with an open letter announcing that Koepka, who left LIV on Dec. 23, will return through a newly created, limited path called the Returning Members Program. Koepka will face a significant financial penalty if he defects to LIV, a penalty he has no problem accepting.

In a letter to members, Brian Rolapp, the PGA Tour’s new CEO, outlined a three-week amnesty period that the PGA Tour will open to Koepka and all other players who won a major or the Players between 2022 and 2025. That limits the offer to DeChambeau, Rahm and Smith, the players who, like Koepka, will have value to the PGA Tour if they return. The window, which closes on February 2, is an offer that may not materialize once the deadline has passed.

“This is a one-time, defined window and is not a precedent for future situations. Once the door closes, there is no promise that this path will be available again,” Rolapp wrote.

For the first time since LIV arrived and turned the golf world upside down, the PGA Tour is giving LIV a taste of its own medicine by opening the door to an existential threat of poaching.

It is unclear whether any of the three players eligible for the return trip are interested in leaving the leading group for the tour they once called home. DeChambeau’s contract with LIV expires at the end of 2026. He has said that while he believes in what LIV is doing, Koepka’s departure threw a wrench into his renegotiation efforts. Smith has said he enjoys the team aspect of LIV and that the league makes an annual stop in his home country of Australia. LIV contracts are not public, so we don’t know if any of them would ban them from leaving without incurring a heavy financial penalty.

The Returning Members program and the ticking clock it has created is the PGA Tour going on the offensive and trying to see if it can deliver an even bigger blow to LIV, with Koepka already back in the fold.

The obvious question now is: what’s next for LIV now that it’s the one being disrupted? What does the leading group do if someone else takes back the olive branch from Rolapp? What is her reaction when they are chased?

These are questions that the leading group has never had to deal with. The answer, whatever it is, will be fascinating and telling.

If anything, Koepka’s loss to the PGA Tour is a symbolic loss for LIV. The league has built its reputation on star power as it is home to major winners at the highest level such as Rahm, Johnson, DeChambeau, Koepka and Mickelson. Now one of the biggest names has declined and the PGA Tour is trying to see if others will follow suit.

Koepka’s departure won’t stop LIV. Even if Rahm or DeChambeau follow suit, the competition will likely move on. It has a deep-pocketed financial backing, has built an international roster and has found success in markets like Australia.

But professional golf is about star power. LIV has always understood this. There are only so many needle movers, and they all seemed to be sitting on their side before Koepka returned to the PGA Tour. At the very least, the PGA Tour has only increased DeChambeau’s influence in his negotiations with LIV. At most, they can deal a major blow to LIV’s identity if one or more players follow Koepka.

The new season of LIV kicks off on February 4 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, two days after Rolapp’s limited-time offer ends. LIV is full steam ahead even without Koepka, but will start 2026 in an unfamiliar position after the PGA Tour disruptor.