With the 2026 season just around the corner, there is plenty of talk about where Brooks Koepka will spend most of his time on tour.
Back in December, Koepka made a surprising move. The five-time major champion was the first big name to ask out of LIV Golf, a league that had already convinced several stars to leave the PGA Tour.
Having Koepka return would give the PGA Tour another boost. But players who have left LIV Golf haven’t been able to rejoin right away.
If that timeline holds, he won’t be eligible to play on the PGA Tour again until September – a full year after his last start with LIV Golf.
Discussion of Brooks Koepka’s possible return by Michael Kim
If Koepka is blocked from rejoining the PGA Tour for a year, he could spend most of the season on the DP World Tour. It wouldn’t be new ground for him – he first made his name on that circuit before breaking through in America.
However, with Brian Rolapp now in charge, there is a chance the PGA Tour could reconsider their policy in light of Koepka’s situation.
Michael Kim raised that point as well and suggested that Rolapp’s leadership might make it more likely for Koepka to return. Kim also shared some thoughts on how other players have reacted, including Rory McIlroy.
“I’m sure there has to have been conversations between Brooks’ team and some of the tour leadership. I’m sure there’s been plenty of communication between at least the guys on the board, I’m sure there’s been talk amongst those guys,” he said on Pat Mayo Experience.
He added: “In a sense [Rory’s] turned down the most money, right, by not going to LIV. But he’s been in favour of let’s just get everyone back together, it seems like. I’ve never talked to Rory about it, but it seems like he’s been more open to it than some of the others who turned down much, much less, or that it wasn’t even an option for them. There’s definitely going to be guys who say ‘no, why does he get the big cheque and get to come back? I would have gone to LIV Q-School and come back if that was okay’. So there’s definitely going to be some talk about it.
“It’s going to be interesting to see how it plays out. I’m obviously not going to have much say in it. But I think the fact that Brian Rolapp’s in charge now, who was never part of the early LIV [drama], and had a fresh look on everything, I think that is going to help Brooks out I think more than when Jay [Monahan] was in charge.”
Brian Rolapp’s recent comments may be telling as Brooks Koepka’s future remains uncertain
Rolapp has not made any public statements about Koepka’s potential return to the PGA Tour. When Koepka left LIV, the Tour released a brief and non-specific statement, but the CEO has yet to clarify his own position.
However, comments Rolapp made about Bryson DeChambeau in late 2025 might offer some insight. He was full of praise for the two-time US Open champion.
“I think Bryson is a star in he’s an amazing golfer,” he began by saying.
“He’s also amazing for what he does off the golf course, in that, you know, the bulk of his consumption where people see him is on YouTube, by the way. I mean, they don’t see him on television because the other league doesn’t really draw a lot of viewers.
“Yeah, I think everybody wants to see the best golfers compete. But I will say there’s a complete misconception about the sport of golf that I think is that any given tournament or competition matters if there are three or four people in it.
“You want to see the same three or four people in it but if you look at the depth of talent of the PGA Tour, that competitive parity aspect of it is unrivalled and there’s no tour on Earth that has deeper amounts than what we have.”
This came at a time when DeChambeau was trying to build support for an immediate return to play without serving out a ban – something Koepka would also be hoping for if he comes back this year.
There are arguments both ways regarding exceptions for Koepka as well. Bending rules for one player could set a precedent others might want to follow back from LIV.
But many within PGA circles seem to believe getting Koepka back is too valuable an opportunity for Rolapp not to consider seriously.
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