As Brooks Koepka prepares for his return to the PGA Tour, not all players are particularly happy to see him be welcomed back after his defection to LIV
Brooks Koepka is back on the PGA Tour(Image: Alex Goodlett, Getty Images)
Wyndham Clark has accused the PGA Tour of not being hard enough on Brooks Koepka who has returned to the tour after leaving LIV Golf. Three years after the five-time major champion switched allegiances to the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund-backed breakaway circuit, Koepka has now re-joined the American tour.
The 34-year-old walked away from the lucrative series despite having 12 months remaining on his contract, which was reportedly worth an eye-watering £74.6million annually. At first, it seemed he wouldn’t be permitted to compete until August.
But he could now be available for the start of the 2026 season, as a result of the PGA’s newly introduced returning member programme. As part of his return, he’s been required to make a £3.7m charitable contribution, whilst he’ll also forfeit eligibility for the Tour’s player equity scheme between 2026-2030, potentially costing him up to £63m.
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Despite this, Clark believes the sanctions aren’t tough enough. Speaking to SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio about Koepka’s reversal, the 2023 US Open winner admitted: “I’m so torn. I personally really like Brooks and I think it’s ultimately really good for the PGA Tour.”
However, he also summed up his feelings with a nine-word comment claiming Koepka was “able to get the cake and also eat it.”
Clark continued: “I don’t know. I’m very torn. At the end of the day, I want whatever is best for the PGA Tour. With this guy coming back, especially top players like Brooks, its going to help the tour which is ultimately going to help me.
“I don’t know really how I feel. I wish maybe there were a few more repercussions, but I am glad the things they set in place are pretty decent.
Clark has admitted he feels strange about Koepka’s imminent return(Image: Getty)
“I also like the hard deadline. I think that’s good. I just hope they stick with that and they don’t waiver on that maybe in a year or two.”
In addition to missing out on the equity programme, he won’t receive any payments from the FedExCup Bonus Program for the 2026 season. Despite his 2023 PGA Championship victory ensuring he keeps his PGA Tour card until 2028, Koepka will need to qualify for ‘signature’ events such as the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Arnold Palmer Invitational and many others.
Securing a win at a PGA Tour event or making it into the world’s top 30 would guarantee him a spot in these ‘signature’ events. Golf legend Tiger Woods acknowledged Koepka’s return to LIV could divide opinions among players and fans, but maintained his comeback would benefit the overall image of the PGA Tour.
Koepka defected to LIV in 2022(Image: Icon Sportswire, Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The winner of 15 major titles said: “There are opinions from both sides, we are not going to satisfy everyone. We know that, but the whole idea is to make our tour better than what it was.
“With Brooks’ addition to the [PGA] Tour, it does. It makes it a better place to play. Now with players who have earned equity, and there are four more years of potential earning of equity for these players.
“The fact that they own the [PGA] Tour, if Brooks plays, it puts more money in their pocket. It is a win for everyone.”
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