According to Daily Mail - Sport, Tom Watson described the PGA Tour as reneging on its initial promises when players left for LIV Golf, bemoaning how easy the circuit went on Brooks Koepka when he applied to return. Watson believes LIV Golfers should not have had such a straightforward path back, a sentiment he shared while joining Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player for the ceremonial opening tee shot at The Masters. He told Daily Mail - Sport that if he were commissioner, returning players would have to qualify through the Korn Ferry Tour for a year, but the Tour saw it differently, with Watson noting that the compensation paid was deemed sufficient despite his view that LIV players were supposed to be banned for life.
Brooks Koepka rejoined the PGA Tour this year after cutting short his LIV Golf stint by 12 months, but his comeback did not come without penalty. Under the Returning Member Programme, Koepka faces heavy and appropriate limitations to both tournament access and potential earnings. He agreed to make a $5 million charitable contribution and could forfeit approximately $50 million to $85 million in potential earnings, depending on his competitive results and the Tour's growth.
The Tour made a decision to renege on what they promised when the players left for LIV.
The Returning Member Program was extended to other high-profile LIV players, including Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cameron Smith, all of whom have won major championships. However, these players still remain with LIV Golf. In contrast, Patrick Reed has also been working his way back into the PGA Tour after serving a suspension, but he was not eligible for the Returning Member Program.
Meanwhile, Brooks Koepka has struggled for consistency since his return to the PGA Tour, a fact noted by his coach, Peter Cowen, who read him the riot act ahead of The Masters. According to Daily Express - Sport, Cowen described not supporting Koepka's choice to walk away from his LIV contract. However, Cowen cannot dispute that his client is now in a better frame of mind, telling Daily Express - Sport that Koepka is definitely happier and hitting the ball well.
They felt that the compensation that he's paid is good enough. I thought the LIV players, when they left, they were supposed to be banned for life.
Cowen added that Koepka has more major titles than PGA Tour victories. The PGA Tour's new policy under CEO Brian Rolapp continues to evolve, with Watson's ceremonial role at The Masters serving as a backdrop to the ongoing debate.
If I was commissioner, that's what I would do. I'd say if you're finished with your contract with LIV Golf, if you want to play the PGA Tour again, you come back, and you must play the Korn Ferry Tour for a year to qualify for it. They saw it differently.
When the players left, they violated the No. 1 rule that we really had out here, which is to protect the sponsors.