Opinion: Brooks Koepka leaves LIV…no guarantee he will be on the PGA Tour

Brooks Koepka (Joe Schilp, Wikimedia Commons)

There was some massive golf news on Wednesday as it was reported by Doug Ferguson of the Associated Press, that five-time major champion Brooks Koepka of West Palm Beach, Florida was leaving the LIV Tour. Now the major questions are what will Koepka do next and will the PGA Tour welcome him back?

Koepka has won five majors in his career. He won the 2017 and 2018 United States Open, and the 2018, 2019, and 2023 PGA Championship. The fifth major was as a LIV representative.

When Koepka left the PGA Tour to join the LIV Tour, it was rather huge news. He was part of a number of high profile American golfers who switched allegiances. He was joined by Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Reed and Dustin Johnson.

While on the LIV Tour, Koepka won five times. He won the 2022 and 2023 LIV Golf Invitational Jeddah, the 2023 LIV Golf Orlando, 2024 LIV Golf Singapore, and 2024 LIV Golf Greenbrier. Of Koepka’s five LIV titles, three titles came in a playoff. He defeated Peter Uihlein of New Bedford, Massachusetts in Jeddah in 2022, Talor Gooch of Midwest City, Oklahoma in  Jeddah in 2023, and Spain’s Jon Rahm at the Greenbrier.

Why did Kopeka leave the LIV Tour to begin with? According to LIV Chief Executive Officer Scott O’Neil, Koepka is leaving because of family reasons and disinterest in heavy travel. Koepka is married to supermodel Jena Sims of Winder, Georgia. The former Miss Georgia Teen USA has a two year-old son with Koepka.

One might wonder if the PGA Tour will have Koepka back? The reason he may not is because of political reasons. I think it will be just a matter of time before he returns to the PGA Tour. Koepka is an elite golfer and could battle with Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy for years to come.