Bold move by the PGA Tour in its relationship with players who have moved to LIV Golf. Spectacular change of course. It has announced the creation of a special return programme with compensations that Brooks Koepka has already accepted and extends it to Jon Rahm, Cameron Smith, and Bryson DeChambeau. Any of the three who wish to take advantage must apply for their re-entry to the PGA Tour before 2 February.
This is the statement signed in the first person by Brian Rolapp, CEO of the PGA Tour:
As the 2026 PGA TOUR season begins this week at the Sony Open in Hawaii, I wanted to offer our fans an update on some recent developments related to players who have appeared in the news, as well as the PGA TOUR’s response to this particular situation.
Since I took over as CEO last year, my main goal has been to fulfil our commitment to fans to create the best possible version of the PGA TOUR. I promised that together, we would respect the past while building the future, challenging ourselves to reach new followers and create a TOUR that reflects the best of sporting competition while maintaining the elite competitive environment our fans expect each week.
I have been fortunate to listen to and learn from many of our fans about what makes the PGA TOUR special, as well as the ways we can further enhance the excitement and significance of competing at the highest level of this sport. And one thing has been clear in all those conversations: you all want to see the world’s best players competing against each other more often.
On 23 December 2025, Brooks Koepka notified the PGA TOUR that his previous affiliation had ended (he left LIV Golf) and subsequently applied for readmission as a TOUR member. This led our Boards to evaluate how we offer the best version of the PGA TOUR for our fans, players, and partners—with severe and justified consequences—which has resulted in our new Member Reinstatement Programme.
Designed to provide an alternative path back to PGA TOUR competition for former members who have achieved the greatest successes in this sport, the Member Reinstatement Programme imposes significant and appropriate limitations on both tournament access and potential earnings, which we believe duly hold returning members accountable for the substantial compensation obtained in other circuits. It also includes elite performance criteria, requiring having won THE PLAYERS Championship, the Masters Tournament, the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open, or The Open Championship between 2022 and 2025. (For this reason, this measure only affects, in addition to Koepka, Jon, winner of the 2023 Masters, Cameron Smith, winner of THE PLAYERS and 2023 Open, and DeChambeau, winner of the 2024 US Open).
Its strict limitations, which Brooks has accepted, include the loss for five years of potential equity participation in the PGA TOUR’s Player Equity Programme, representing one of the largest economic repercussions in the history of professional sport, with estimates that he could forgo approximately between 50 and 85 million dollars in potential earnings, depending on his competitive performance and the growth of the TOUR. At the request of the PGA TOUR, Brooks has also agreed to make a charitable contribution of 5 million dollars, the recipient(s) of which will be determined jointly.
It is important to note that the Member Reinstatement Programme will not take away playing opportunities from current members: the fields will be expanded when necessary.
Other eligible players interested in applying for reinstatement to the PGA TOUR must do so before the Member Reinstatement Programme closes on Monday, 2 February. This is a unique and defined window and does not set a precedent for future situations. Once that door closes, there is no promise that this path will be available again.
We will continue to energetically pursue everything that enhances the fan experience and makes the PGA TOUR stronger. This is part of our commitment to fans, who expect the world’s best players to compete on the PGA TOUR week after week.
