Brooks Koepka to Lose Staggering Amount to Rejoin PGA Tour After Leaving For LIV Golf

Brooks Koepka has accepted that the conditions for him to rejoin the PGA Tour after initially leaving to join LIV Golf are ‘meant to hurt.’

The American has recently opened up about his decision to return to the PGA Tour despite the fact he left it only four years ago, back in 2022. The 35-year-old admitted that the conditions he had to agree to were tough, and also stated there was no wriggle room for negotiations.

It’s not just the strict conditions he’s going to have to adhere to either; he will also have a lot of work to do to win back trust from fellow players who have never been tempted to swap the PGA Tour for the heavily-backed LIV Golf.

Brooks Koepka Becomes First Player to Rejoin PGA Tour

The five-time Major winner officially becomes the first player ever to rejoin the PGA Tour after leaving for LIV Golf. He’s been able to rejoin because of the Returning Member Programme — a one-time policy that allows certain Major or Players Championship winners to come back, but with hefty penalties attached.

Speaking to Associated Press about his return, the American has accepted the penalties that have come his way due to his decision to leave the tour for LIV back in 2022.

He said: “There was no negotiating. It’s meant to hurt, it does hurt, but I understand. It’s not supposed to be an easy path. There’s a lot of people that were hurt by it when I left, and I understand that’s part of coming back.

“Am I nervous? Yes. Am I excited? Yes. In a weird way, I want to have those conversations… I was going to be sitting out possibly a year, and I’m extremely thankful the tour gave me this opportunity.”

Punishments Brooks Koepka Has Agreed to Rejoin

Under the conditions to rejoin the PGA Tour, the American must make a $5 million charitable contribution to a tour-approved organisation. He will also lose access to FedEx Cup bonus money this year, sponsor exemptions to the $20 million signature events, and any equity grants on the PGA Tour for five years.

Based on his performances in previous years, as per Yahoo Sports, the financial impact on Koepka’s decision to rejoin the PGA Tour is estimated to be between $50 million and $85 million over that period.

PGA Tour Open Letter to Fans About Brooks Koepka

Following the news of Brooks Koepka returning to the PGA Tour, the chief executive officer, Brian Rolapp, wrote an open letter to fans to clarify the situation and provide an update about what had happened.

“On Dec. 23, 2025, Brooks Koepka notified the PGA TOUR that his previous affiliation had concluded, and he subsequently applied for reinstatement of TOUR membership. This prompted our boards to evaluate how we deliver the best version of the PGA TOUR for our fans, players, and partners — with severe and justified consequences — which has resulted in our new Returning Member Program.

“Designed to provide an alternative path back to PGA TOUR competition for past members who have achieved the highest accomplishments in the game, the Returning Member Program mandates heavy and appropriate limitations to both tournament access and potential earnings that we believe properly holds returning members accountable for substantial compensation earned elsewhere. It also includes elite performance-based criteria that requires winning THE PLAYERS Championship, Masters Tournament, PGA Championship, US Open, or The Open Championship between 2022 and 2025.

“Its strict limitations, which Brooks has agreed to, include a five-year forfeiture of potential equity in the PGA TOUR’s Player Equity Program, representing one of the largest financial repercussions in professional sports history, with estimations that he could miss out on approximately $50-85 million in potential earnings, depending on his competitive performance and the growth of the TOUR. At the request of the PGA TOUR, Brooks has also agreed to make a $5 million charitable contribution, the recipient(s) of which will be determined jointly.

Importantly, the Returning Member Program will not take away playing opportunities from current members — fields will be expanded as needed.

“Other eligible players interested in seeking PGA TOUR reinstatement must do so by the time the Returning Member Program closes on Monday, Feb. 2. This is a one-time, defined window and does not set a precedent for future situations. Once the door closes, there is no promise that this path will be available again.

“We will continue to aggressively pursue anything that enhances the fan experience and makes the PGA TOUR stronger. This is part of our commitment to fans, who expect the world’s best players to compete on the PGA TOUR week in and week out.”