In a stunning reversal, five-time major champion Brooks Koepka has left the Saudi-backed LIV Golf league to rejoin the PGA Tour. The move, confirmed on Wednesday 14 January 2026, comes at a monumental personal financial cost for the American star.
The High Price of Coming Home
Koepka's return is not a simple case of switching tours. He has agreed to participate in the PGA Tour's new 'Returning Member Program', a pathway exclusively open to winners of major championships or The Players Championship since 2022. As part of this agreement, Koepka will make a $5 million charitable donation and face a significant five-year forfeiture.
PGA Tour chief executive Brian Rolapp outlined the stark financial sacrifice, stating Koepka will forfeit any potential equity in the Tour's Player Equity Program for half a decade. This penalty is estimated to be worth between $50 million and $85 million.
LIV's Loyalty: DeChambeau, Rahm and Smith Stay Put
Despite Koepka's high-profile exit, the LIV Golf league appears to be holding firm with its other marquee signings. Key players including Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, and Cameron Smith have all confirmed they will remain with the rival tour.
DeChambeau, the 2020 U.S. Open champion, indicated he is under contract with LIV and is expected to secure a new, lucrative deal. Reports suggest this new agreement could be worth an estimated $500 million, underscoring the immense financial power the Saudi-funded circuit continues to wield.
What Koepka's Move Means for Golf's Divide
Koepka's defection back to the traditional tour is a major symbolic win for the PGA Tour, proving its new reinstatement policy can attract elite talent. However, the steadfast commitment from other top stars like Rahm and DeChambeau suggests LIV Golf's project is far from over.
The situation highlights the ongoing and expensive battle for supremacy in professional golf. While one star has chosen the path back, others are doubling down on the breakaway league, ensuring the sport's fractured landscape will continue for the foreseeable future.
