Brooks Koepka’s return to the PGA Tour is not as simple as most would think.
Indeed it comes with an enormous financial penalty – a penalty being predicted at well upwards of $43 million.
It has been confirmed by Koepka he’s been accepted back into the ranks of the PGA Tour, and will make his return, all going well, later this month at the Farmers Insurance Open while he’s looking to contest the following week’s WM Phonenix Open.
Koepka rocked the golf world, advising he was quitting LIV Golf and then soon advised he’d written to the PGA Tour expressing a desire to rejoin their ranks some four years after being among the first in June 2022 to jump ship for the riches of the Saudi-backed league.
BREAKING NEWS .. PRICE TAG $43M PLUS
That’s what it is expected to cost five-time Major champ Brooks Koepka in returning @PGATOUR later this month @FarmersInsOpen
NB: In surprise news Tour advises door will be open to ‘others’ till Feb’ 2nd, if looking to join Brooks (See -… pic.twitter.com/xK1HsAToO9
— Fatiha (@TOURMISS) January 12, 2026
The Tour accepted his approach, agreeing to a one-time, and never before heard of, ‘Returning Member Program’, for elite players that comes with a financial penalty that could rank among the largest in sports according to Associated Press.
However, Koepka will not be eligible for PGA Tour equity grants for five years, he will not receive FedEx Cup bonus money in 2026 and he cannot play signature events unless he earns his way in.
The out-of-pocket cost is a €4.25m charity donation to be decided jointly with the tour. The financial repercussions — no access to equity or FedEx Cup bonus money this year — is a potential loss the tour puts at €43 million and upward.
Brian Rolapp, the CEO of PGA Tour Enterprises, outlined the agreement with Koepka and details of the “Returning Member Program” in a memo to players Monday.
Rolapp made clear, however, this was a one-time program and not a precedent. It applies only to players who have won majors or The Players Championship from 2022 through 2025, meaning just three LIV stars Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith would be the only LIV players who could return.
Under this ‘Returning Member Program’ players eligible have until February 2nd to decide. (See penultimate par of Rolapp’s statement in X retweet above)
Koepka will have to earn his way into €17m signature events. He would be added to the field to not take a spot from another tour player.
Koepka’s last ‘regular’ PGA Tour event was in June 2022, finishing T12th at the Valspar Championship.
He was then ranked World No. 12. He’s currently the world’s No. 244th ranked men’s golfer.
