Brooks Koepka rejoined the PGA Tour through its 'Returning Members Program', a move that involved a $5 million charitable contribution and the loss of equity bonuses through 2030, according to multiple reports. The exact terms and conditions of his agreement with the tour have not been disclosed. Koepka announced in December he was severing his contract with LIV Golf with a year remaining, a major media outlet reported.
He is scheduled to next compete at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans from April 23 to 26, where he will partner with Shane Lowry, according to major media. Whether Koepka ultimately got into the RBC Heritage field after Thursday remains uncertain, as he is one withdrawal away from playing in that event, multiple reports indicate. The current status of his eligibility for future PGA Tour Signature Events beyond the RBC Heritage is also unclear.
The Tour made a decision to renege on what they promised when the players left for LIV. They felt that the compensation that he's paid is good enough.
Criticism has emerged over the PGA Tour's policy reversal regarding LIV defectors. According to Daily Express - Sport, Tom Watson described the tour as reneging on its decision to ban for life golfers who defected to LIV, adding that he would have required such players to spend a year on the Korn Ferry Tour to requalify. Watson also noted that the tour felt the compensation paid was sufficient, and he emphasized that players who left violated a key rule to protect sponsors, who rely on big names to promote tournaments.
I thought the LIV players, when they left, they were supposed to be banned for life. If I was commissioner, that's what I would do.
I'd say if you're finished with your contract with LIV Golf and you want to play the PGA Tour again, you must play the (second tier) Korn Ferry Tour for a year to qualify for it. They saw it differently.
When the players left, they violated the number one rule that we really had out here, which is to protect the sponsors. Sponsors need players. They need the names to be able to promote their tournaments.