After leaving LIV Golf in December, Brooks Koepka has confirmed he is rejoining the PGA Tour.
His return was made possible by the PGA Tour’s Returning Member Program, which gives winners of any major or The Players Championship in the past four years a three-week window to come back without penalty.
The initiative also applies to Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith, though none have shown interest in following suit just yet.
As for DeChambeau, there is another angle to consider. He might stand to benefit from the situation in a way that goes beyond just a potential return.
Brooks Koepka exit provides unexpected boost for Bryson DeChambeau
DeChambeau’s deal with LIV Golf runs through the 2026 season, and recent discussions about a new contract have not moved forward.
Now, LIV may end up regretting not locking him down sooner, as his negotiating position has only strengthened recently.
DeChambeau is now the undisputed face of LIV Golf. If he decided to leave as well, the league’s image – already facing plenty of criticism – would take a major hit.
Given the current situation, the 32-year-old holds all the cards in any future negotiations. LIV do not have much choice but to meet his demands if they want to keep him around.
His previous contract was said to be worth around $125 million, so any extension is likely to be even more lucrative.
Bryson DeChambeau’s alternative to LIV Golf extension
DeChambeau is also a significant winner from the Koepka news, largely because he may choose to do the same thing.
That gives the two-time major winner more flexibility as he decides where he wants his career to go next.
If he does not see a long-term future with LIV, he could choose to follow Koepka and return to the PGA Tour.
Under the Returning Member Program, DeChambeau has three weeks from now to make that call.
However, it is hard to see the door being closed if he wanted back in at a later date. The program is technically a one-time offer for each player, but exceptions are not out of the question – especially for someone with DeChambeau’s profile.
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