Just hours after Brooks Koepka reapplied for PGA Tour membership, another LIV golfer has sworn loyalty to the organization. Pat Perez has sent shockwaves by removing his long-standing affiliation with LIV Golf from his Instagram bio. The update hints at a return path that many assumed was closed.

“Former LIV golfer Pat Perez has updated his IG bio with news that he is ‘reinstated to PGA Tour.’ Reports had surfaced indicating Perez was subject to a 1-yr ban following his broadcast stint & it’s believed that he wants to compete on the Champions Tour this year,” NUCLR GOLF wrote in an X post.

Perez joined LIV Golf in 2022 and competed through the 2024 season. During these three years, he earned more than $21 million. In 2025, he shifted into a LIV broadcast role and did not play. However, even that was enough for a one-year ban to be imposed on him.

“Promotion of and association with an unauthorized event is considered participation in the event for the purposes of this regulation,” reads the PGA Tour policy.

Notably, officials considered the three-time PGA Tour winner’s role as an analyst as participation in promoting LIV Golf. Thus, he was to face a ban until August 2026, as his last broadcast role at Indianapolis took place in August 2025. But as he is turning 50 in March 2026, he expressed a wish to play on the PGA Tour Champions. It was more of a cryptic message than a wish, though.

On January 2, 2026, the American professional golfer uploaded a story. The story featured an ice-filled cup with the PGA Tour logo on it. He also wrote a message that read, “Happy NEW Year…”

Later, he changed his Instagram bio to “Member of @pgatour” on January 9, 2026. And now, he has changed it to “Reinstated to PGA Tour.”

If the PGA Tour has reinstated Perez, it might be without any punishment. According to the policy, he must face a ban, but his Instagram bio suggests otherwise. And this comes amid Brooks Koepka’s reapplication for PGA Tour membership. The 9x PGA Tour winner left LIV Golf on December 23, 2025, with one year still remaining in his contract. And on January 9, 2026, he reportedly reapplied for the membership. ESPN was the first to report this, citing confirmation from their sources. However, there’s no confirmation from either Brooks Koepka or the PGA Tour.

Notably, the World No. 2 Rory McIlroy said that the PGA Tour should allow Koepka to return without any punishment.

“Does it make sense if Brooks wanted to play the PGA Tour again to get him back as soon as possible? Absolutely,” the Northern Irishman said.

However, he also acknowledged that it is difficult to welcome him back without any punishment as it would send across a wrong message. Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee also feels the same.

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Brandel Chamblee rejects Rory McIlroy’s view on Brooks Koepka’s return

While McIlroy was in favor of allowing the 5x major champion to return without any harsh punishment, Chamblee has a contradicting view.

“So I couldn’t disagree more with what Rory said… “I couldn’t disagree more with those who think that Brooks should be able to come back without some consequence…,” Chamblee said.

He says that Koepka’s popularity was one of the most significant factors in making LIV Golf a viable league. Although the PGA Tour cannot punish the 9x PGA Tour winner for his popularity, he should still face consequences. In fact, the golf analyst believes that if there are no consequences, it would send a very wrong signal.

LIV golfers may consider the PGA Tour an opportunity whenever they want to be back. On the other hand, PGA Tour professionals who stayed loyal to the tour would think that deserting the organization does not have any consequences. And if the PGA Tour does decide to punish any other LIV golfer who wants to rejoin, it would show that the rules are different for different people. Therefore, Brandel Chamblee believes that if Brooks Koepka is to return to the PGA Tour, there should be some punishment for him.

As Pat Perez’s Instagram update raises fresh questions about reinstatement rules, it adds another layer to the uncertainty surrounding how the PGA Tour is handling Brooks Koepka’s return. With Brooks Koepka’s situation still unresolved, the tour now faces growing pressure to balance consistency, fairness, and precedent in its decisions.