LIV Golf’s vision remains ‘unchanged’ after Brooks Koepka’s departure

LOS ANGELES – LIV Golf responded to Brooks Koepka’s reinstatement to the PGA Tour on Jan 12 with a statement that trumpeted its “unchanged” vision to grow the sport.

LIV’s statement also said that its desire for “an open ecosystem” in the sport applied to all players, “not just a limited few”.

The response came after it was revealed that the PGA Tour is opening a limited-time window for players who defected to LIV to come back, terming it the Returning Player Programme.

Only players who have won a Players Championship, Masters, PGA Championship, US Open or British Open between 2022 and 2025 are eligible to return.

Americans Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm of Spain and Cameron Smith of Australia are the players who fit those criteria.

A five-time Major champion,

Koepka, 35, decided to leave the LIV circuit

with its worldwide footprint in December, wanting to be closer to his family in the US.

While PGA Tour chief executive officer Brian Rolapp’s letter to players promised he would gather “the world’s best players to compete on the PGA Tour week in and week out”, LIV Golf attempted to hold firm.

“From the outset, LIV Golf has championed an open ecosystem and freedom, for all,” the statement said.

“Not just for a limited few. One that supports players’ rights to compete across various platforms, reinforcing the belief that the growth of the game is best served when the game’s best players are empowered to seek the most competitive environments around the world.

“LIV Golf’s vision remained unchanged – to grow the game of golf globally – and that vision gains momentum across the broader golf landscape, the capacity to deliver on it continues to strengthen by expanding pathways and opportunity beyond any single institution or interest.

“As the world’s golf league, LIV Golf continues to offer the best professional golfers the most competitive, challenging and lucrative environment in which to pursue greatness on a global scale.”

Koepka, meanwhile, said in a statement on X he accepted that returning to the PGA Tour would come with financial penalties.

“When I was a child, I always dreamed about competing on the PGA Tour, and I am just as excited today to announce that I am returning to the PGA Tour,” he said.

“Being closer to home and spending more time with my family makes this opportunity especially meaningful to me. I believe in where the PGA Tour is headed with new leadership, new investors, and an equity programme that gives players a meaningful ownership stake.

“I also understand there are financial penalties associated with this decision, and I accept those.”

PGA Tour chief Rolapp said Koepka’s decision to leave LIV had prompted officials to consider how they handled the issue of embracing players who wanted to rejoin the tour.

The result was the PGA Tour’s new Returning Member Programme, which Rolapp said would come with “severe and justified consequences”.

“The Returning Member Programme 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,” he said.

Also on Jan 12, LIV Golf announced the rebranding of the Iron Heads GC franchise to Korean Golf Club, leaning into the symbolism and identity of South Korea.

The new team logos feature a white tiger and a Rose of Sharon, prominent symbols in South Korean culture.

In 2025, the Iron Heads GC were captained by Kevin Na and featured Danny Lee of New Zealand, Jang Yu-bin of South Korea and Jinichiro Kozuma of Japan. Na, Lee and Jang were born in South Korea.

LIV Golf team rosters for 2026 have not been formally revealed. Koepka was previously the captain of Smash GC. REUTERS, AFP