And suddenly, in this current chaotic world of golf, at Christmas something happens that has never happened before. The American Brooks Koepka has become the first great world star who, of his own free will, has captured some of the best players on the planet since 2022 and caused a split between those who changed shirts and those who remained in the traditional circuits. Koepka, 35, marks a before and after by breaking the contract that bound him for one more season with the innovative competition. It is not just any goodbye, but the slamming of the door for the champion of five majors (US Open in 2017 and 2018 and the PGA Championship in 2018, 2019 and 2023), a player in full maturity and captain of the Smash team. His departure comes loaded with great symbolic power, which means that one of LIV’s flagship golfers, signed at the time thanks to a $100 million deal, decides to leave the Saudi League and opens the door to a return to the American circuit, the PGA Tour.
LIV sold the divorce as an “amicable” separation and hidden under the usual argument of personal reasons. “Brooks Koepka will be leaving LIV Golf. Family has always guided his decisions and he feels it is the right time to spend more time at home,” the farewell statement read. The golfer and actress Jena Sims, parents of a two-year-old boy, announced last October that they had undergone an abortion. Deep down, there is also the player’s feeling that the LIV competitive environment is not the most suitable to continue in the elite of world golf. Koepka is the only player who has won a major in the Saudi League (PGA 2023) and only veteran Phil Mickelson (six majors, 55 years old) has more Grand Slam crowns than him among those who play in this competition. However, his shine has dimmed in the last two campaigns. This year he was 12th at the US Open and missed the cut in the other three majorsdid not win any LIV tournaments for the first time since his signing (one victory in 2022, two in 2023 and two in 2024) and finished in 31st place in the League’s individual standings.
That drop in his service record and the little feeling of belonging to LIV beyond a check with many zeros (in the big ones he did not wear the clothing and logo of his Saudi team as other players do) have now led Koepka to take a new path in his career. The door to the PGA Tour opens again for him, although for now he will have to apply for membership of the circuit and wait if it imposes some type of sanction, financial or time without being able to play, for his previous escape. The PGA Tour has the ball in its hands and its decision is of enormous importance due to the precedent it will set. He can keep Koepka away from his tournaments or, on the contrary, he can take advantage of the earthquake that his departure from LIV means and open his arms to him like a son returning home. In a statement issued shortly after the golfer’s move was confirmed, he already hinted at his willingness to negotiate: “Brooks Koepka is a consummate professional and we wish him and his family continued success. The PGA Tour continues to offer the best golfers the greatest challenges and the most lucrative environment to pursue greatness.”
The Saudi League has taken steps towards acceptance of its competition by the governing bodies of world golf, such as the significant change starting in 2026 with which it hopes to finally obtain points from the ranking. But Koepka’s goodbye is a missile to his waterline. At a time when the war between the two sides continues without a solution to the conflict appearing, the return of such a charismatic star to the PGA can have a similar impact to that caused by Jon Rahm’s signing for LIV two years ago. Star by star, blow by blow.
