Brooks Koepka’s PGA Tour comeback was about timing

Brooks Koepka’s return to the PGA Tour was made possible by a number of factors, but it boiled down to time.

The five-time champion officially parted ways with LIV Golf on December 23 and informed the PGA Tour that he wanted to return to the place he called home. As the first superstar to leave LIV Golf, Koepka’s name value and brand of rebellion were reason enough for the PGA Tour to find a way to open the door for him. But the fact that the decision was left to new PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp, rather than outgoing commissioner Jay Monahan, was a key factor.

In the latest episode of GOLF’s Subpar Podcastcontributors Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz discuss how managing Rolapp made Koepka’s comeback possible.

“That’s why I think it’s a good time for Brian Rolapp to come in,” Stoltz said. “It’s nothing like when the PGA Tour and LIV first happened. There were actually two camps — the PGA Tour or LIV. It got intense. The people who left, the social media messages they would get, it was bad. Rolapp wasn’t there for all that. He was an NFL guy. He’s like, ‘Oh, I can bring back one of our players on the world tour, who right now isn’t one of our world tour players. The tour, and that makes us better.

“I don’t think that would have happened if the leadership was in place right now. If it wasn’t for Brian Rolapp, I don’t think it would have happened.”

Knost added: “This guy doesn’t care about the past. You know what? Bringing Brooks Koepka back improves our brand. It’s interesting, man. The right move for the PGA Tour. To keep him for a year? What good does that do to anybody? It hurts Brooks Koepka in the tournament. Let’s bring him back. Let’s not get rid of him. He’s a big name. He’s a five-time major champion. I’m sorry, not everyone is treated the same way. That’s why they just created this little division, we have four people in it.”

In return for Koepka, Rolapp created a limited method called the Returning Member Program. That plan allows any major winner or Players between 2022 and 2025 to return to the PGA Tour, with a financial penalty. The route, open to Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Cameron Smith, closes on February 2.

All three of those players have already said they will stay with LIV Golf, but Stolz believes the top players will be able to return to the PGA Tour at some point if they choose. If Rolapp can make the PGA Tour product better, he will.

“Let’s just say they don’t jump during the window, but over time it’s like, ‘Hey, I think I’m ready to come back. If the word is big enough, and there’s a few out there, I think they’ll let whatever they want back,'” Stoltz said.

To hear more from Stoltz and Knost, check out the full Subpar below.

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