Brooks Koepka is currently trending with over 20K searches due to significant developments regarding his status in the PGA Tour. Recent reports indicate that he is seeking reinstatement to the PGA Tour after a notable hiatus linked to his participation in LIV Golf, where he reportedly earned $165 million. This financial aspect adds a compelling angle to his potential return, generating heightened interest among golf fans and analysts alike.
An ESPN article has confirmed that Koepka is in the process of reapplying for PGA Tour membership, which raises questions about the implications for both his career and the current state of professional golf. This move comes after his high-profile involvement with LIV Golf, a league that has drawn considerable attention and controversy within the golf community.
Additionally, Sportico has reported on the approval of Koepka’s return to the PGA Tour, further fueling public curiosity about the transition of players between these competing circuits. As a prominent athlete within the sport, his decisions and actions are under scrutiny, contributing to the increased search volume as fans seek information on his future in professional golf.
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Internet Reacts
K
Holy shit, this is the most bold and upfront announcement in a long time.
M
Maybe ever
K
Does it get more bold than this though: [The PGA TOUR and Chipotle Mexican Grill announced Wednesday a new marketing partnership that designates Chipotle as the “Official Mexican Restaurant” of the PGA Tour](https://www.pgatour.com/article/news/latest/2026/01/07/pga-tour-chipotle-announce-new-partnership-chipotle-real-food-for-real-athletes-official-mexican-restaurant-burrito-bowl-tacos-quesadilla)
M
QDOBA supremacy
K
I too, will die on the Qdoba hill. Vive la Doba
N
It’s a far superior product ever since Chipotle went PE.
B
Chipotle is a publicly traded company.
H
I think it would be neat if they forced them to play every tourney in order to be reinstated. Or at least all but 2 or so. Let’s see these names at the smaller events
J
I think it would be neat if they did that to every golfer on tour.
L
My one counter is if that was required then the PGA needs to cough up the money to help cover travel costs. Lebron ain’t paying for a flight from one city to another. And sure Scottie could afford it but the goal is to develop new talent and the last guy on tour would be helped in part by also covering caddy traveling & housing costs.
M
Wow. Didn’t think it would be that direct and apparently transparent.
O
That transparency was unheard of with the PGA Tour. Dig it
L
New CEO making a statement
M
PGA tour is going hunting for Bryson and Rahm with this statement if LIV lost both of them, theyd be dead overnight
C
bryson would never agree to this, but Rahm would probably have a hard think on it. He would presumably be forfeiting a LOT of money though since his contract situation is very different than Brooks and even bryson
B
How long is Rahm’s contract with LIV? I can’t imagine he can just walk away from that without repercussions from LIV and these from the PGA Tour.
K
4 years until the end of 2027. He has incentives that can get his contract up to 500M. Even if he could walk away, I don’t think he will with a possible 250M still on the table.
A
Yeah, Brooks has already collected his $100M+ from LIV so not earning as much over the next 5 years is no big deal. Rahm and others presumably have 10s of millions in unrealized guaranteed earnings from LIV so i have my doubts we’ll see many more jump.
O
How much money does Rahm need? He can take the hit and put these couple of years behind him. It’s just if the Saudi’s can litigate for breaking contract or whatever.
K
I mean yeah, he can take the hit, but no matter who you are leaving a possible 250+M left on the table is hard to do. His contract can get up to half a billion dollars in just 4 years. I don’t know about you but if I had 11 PGA wins and 2 majors, I’m not leaving those two years on the table. If he does, good on him I guess but I wouldn’t fault him for not leaving.
U
“litigate” 
M
Did you ask how much he needs? lol. They “need” all they can get. Just everyone else would if they had the same opportunity
F
Bryson could potentially be better off just staying on his YT channel. 🤣
D
Bryson would make a shit ton of money playing on the tour. I’d say it’s pretty much all but guaranteed the big players come back when the contracts are up.
T
They have four weeks to decide lol
D
Missed that. Good point.
B
You need to go scope his LIV contract.. if his PGA cash is a “shit ton” then his LIV contract is a “shit megaton.” They left in the first place because the Tour doesn’t pay very well for its top performers. They make most of their money off advertising endorsements. LIV offered him celebrity sports star cash. I don’t like the Saudis trying to buy out sports — but the flip side of that whole thing is that the tour is really fucking over players for… participating in capitalism. There are no good guys here.
H
Right. But at the moment he would not be able to monetize his YouTube channel the way he is currently able to and other restrictions that come with being a playing member of the PGA tour. In Bryson’s case I’m pretty sure the Saudi PIF has a stake in his channel. I’m sure the new regime is working to address these more modern issues as digital rights and content have been sticking points for players. But at the moment that’s the case. Also worth noting that Brooks is likely forfeiting a chunk of his LIV contract. The first LIV contracts were structured differently than say Rahm’s since there was no guarantee there would a LIV tour in 5 years when Brooks signed his contract. I also think LIV moving to 72 hole format likely gave Brooks some leverage in parting ways.
V
Would Bryson be allowed to continue his YT channel?
A
Monahan never wouldve had the balls for this
J
this mess is largely monahan’s fault.
L
Calling the Saudis terrorists and bringing up 9/11 as emotional blackmail to stop the players from joining LIV, then going behind the players backs to announce a framework agreement on TV and shaking the hand of the guy he implied funds terrorism is hilarious in retrospect tho, gotta give credit to Monahan as a comedian
K
Find it amusing that Brooks has more majors than regular PGA Tour wins, has to be quite rare.
F
Brooks is one of those guys that is almost all clutch factor. Seems like he is only able to reach his top gear when everything is on the line
D
i think if its not a major he truly doesnt care to compete. If he found something in him to care about PGA wins I would imagine he’d have more of them. He’s just an aloof type of guy
F
For sure, I’m not faulting him for it at all. Some people need that highest tier of competition to really care, others dominate the regular season then fold under championship pressure. It seems like the true sports greats like Tiger or Michael Jordan just want to crush their opponents no matter what the stage or stakes
S
There was a good interview with him several years ago where he basically said that golf is boring to him, and he only plays the other events so he can play majors.
D
I remember that, but that makes it odd to me that he wants to return to the PGA tour–he can play in the majors now (at least for a while I think?) without the PGA tour grind. On a completely unrelated note, I find him boring.
S
Probably a combination of: needing fans at tournaments to thrive, which liv will never have. And, sick of being in a completely irrelevant field.
C
TIL Caleb Williams is Brooks Koepka
S
Angel Cabrera and Todd Hamilton are the only two others I can think of.
A
Nick Faldo, Andy North, Louis Oosthuizen. And Hamilton has a regular tour win and just one major.
B
Seve had 4 PGA tour wins and 5 majors
N
He also has the most European Tour wins of all time – without having the numbers, I doubt he played a very large # of TOUR events.
O
LMAO at the performance window being 2022-25. Just a giant middle finger to Phil and his 2021 PGA win. They obviously know exactly who they want back and who they don’t.
N
Double middle fingers to Patrick Reed.
D
Lol what a great way to get rid of reed.
T
Extend the window, but include a “Cheating Fucker” Clause.
B
And Sergio
A
Great news!
Additional Sources:
ESPN – Sources: Koepka seeking PGA Tour reinstatement
Sportico.com – Koepka PGA Tour Return Approved After $165M LIV Golf Payday
