Rory McIlroy has already said he would welcome back Brooks Koepka to the PGA Tour after he walked away from LIV Golf. The Masters champion would also be happy to have the five-time major winner involved in TGL.
After his Boston Common Golf won their first TGL match in a thrilling season-opener against Los Angeles Golf Club, McIlroy was asked about the possibility of Koepka joining TGL.
“I would say that’s up to people that are more powerful and more important than me,” McIlroy said Friday. “But I am one of the founders. I would love him to play.”
One of the prerequisites of a player competing in TGL (at least currently) is that they have to be a member in good standing with the PGA Tour. Koepka is not currently a member, as he has not applied for reinstatement after leaving LIV Golf, according to reports. However, if Koepka chooses to apply for reinstatement, and the PGA Tour admits him back without punishment that would bar him from competing in TGL, then he would be cleared to play.
It’s unclear where in the prcoess Koepka might be in returning to the PGA Tour, as well as what kind of sanctions and suspensions he could face for his four-year run in the Saudi-owned LIV Golf League.
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There’s also the matter of roster spaces in TGL. For its second season, TGL returned all 24 players who competed on the six teams in Season 1. However, two matches into the new season, three PGA Tour players have already substituted into two different teams’ lineups. Chris Gotterup and Corey Conners filled in for Lucas Glover and Patrick Cantlay in the season-opening match for defending TGL champions, Atlanta Drive GC. Michael Thorbjornsen was the best player for McIlroy’s Boston Common in notching the franchise’s first TGL win on Friday night.
Even if there’s not a full-time spot for Koepka on the existing TGL rosters, the league is set to expand to seven teams next season with the inclusion of a Detroit-based team.
“If there’s space on a team for Brooks to come and play, it only makes what we’re trying to do stronger,” McIlroy said. “He’s a five-time major champion. He’s been one of the best players of our generation. If he decides it’s something that he wants to do, I’m sure we’ll find a way to include him.”
