The new PGA Tour season officially kicked off with the Sony Open on Thursday, but the biggest news of the week came Monday, when the PGA Tour announced its Returning Member Program and, bigger yet, that Brooks Koepka had already accepted and will return to the Tour this month.
The offer, in short, is simple: the PGA Tour will allow major winners or Players Championship winners since 2022 to rejoin the PGA Tour with some penalties and conditions. That criteria whittles down the list to just four LIV Golf players: Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Cameron Smith and Koepka.
Koepka, we already know, has accepted. The others have until Feb. 2, 2026, to decide.
So, will any take it? That trio said no during LIV press conferences earlier this week, although their tones left room for skepticism.
This was a major topic on GOLF’s Subpar podcast this week, with hosts Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz talking it out. Stoltz also asked Knost the important question everyone is now wondering: Do you think anyone else will flip and join the PGA Tour?
“I do,” Knost said. “I think at least one. That’s just my honest opinion. I know nothing. I have talked to Jon Rahm some about this. Obviously he’s not going to say anything to me about it. He’s focused on LIV at the moment. But I think it would definitely have to make him think a little bit.”
“The PGA Tour is basically forcing their hand — if you want back do it right now,” Stoltz added. “I’m very curious to see what happens. Also, it’s a huge blow to LIV. They lose one of their marquee guys and he’s allowed back right away. And now just the distraction element for these guys that are going to be asked, ‘What do you think about Brooks? Are you considering coming back?’ I think [the PGA Tour] made the right decision.”
Knost said it’s already a major loss for LIV and has potential to get worse.
“I think it just absolutely destroys them,” he said. “On the other hand, the one thing is, this could piss LIV off. The PIF? Infinite money. They could say you know what, you are going to do this to us, OK fine, we are opening up our checkbook, tell us the number to the top guys, whatever you want, come over here and we can fire back and play this money game all you want and you are going to lose. I don’t know if they will go that route, but I’m just saying that could be an option.”
For more on the PGA Tour’s Returning Member Program and to listen to the interview with Subpar guest Kip Henley, click here to listen to the podcast or watch it on YouTube below.
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