Just when the golf world thought the battle lines were drawn, Brooks Koepka erased them, sending shockwaves from the Saudi-backed league all the way back to the PGA Tour. He stated that he will be returning to the PGA after a prolonged absence next year. His sudden decision to leave LIV Golf for the PGA Tour appeared to come out of nowhere. However, recent comments from his own replacement suggest this move may have been in the works for far longer than anyone realized.

After the sudden exit of the LIV icon, his team, Smash GC, found themselves in a very tricky situation. After all, they were without a captain. Fortunately, coming to the rescue was Talor Gooch, who stepped up to take over the reins as the captain. But while it might seem that the responsibility came in haphazardly, in reality, Gooch had been preparing for this for quite some time.

“He wanted me to be alongside the growth in the future of what Smash looked like – not just from making birdies, but from a decision-making perspective and leadership perspective,” Gooch said, indicating that this was a tell-tale sign of what exactly Koepka was thinking. “And I said to him, I only want to make this move if I can kind of have a voice in this thing.”

Well, it looks like Koepka heard him loud and clear, and now, Gooch has his wishes fulfilled. Coming back to Koepka, his departure would leave a gaping hole for LIV. This apparent long-term planning makes Koepka’s decision to walk away from a massive payday even more significant. Koepka still had one full year of contract left with the league. This means he is giving up a whopping $100 million that was up for grabs had he decided to stay. 

Additionally, the exit of the LIV icon also means that other big names might be influenced by his decision. And in all probability, Bryson DeChambeau, too, might soon be following Koepka’s footsteps. If this really happens, then the Saudi-backed league would be in dire straits. Meanwhile, trying to get back to the PGA, Koepka’s road might not be too smooth, as Brandel Chamblee has called for the LIV Golf star’s punishment. 

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Brandel Chamblee is furious with Brooks Koepka’s decision to join the PGA Tour

Well, leaving behind all the chaos at LIV, Koepka’s entry into the PGA will also not be filled with rose petals. As of now, the PGA does not allow golfers coming from LIV Golf to compete straightaway. Instead, they have to complete a 1-year ban before they can rejoin. However, recent speculations have surfaced hinting that the PGA Tour might be bending the rules for a big name like Koepka. And this is what Chamblee does not approve of.

Speaking about the matter recently, Chamblee said, “Allowing Brooks Koepka to return to the PGA Tour with no consequence would undermine the very meritocratic foundations that make the PGA Tour legitimate.”

He further added, “LIV did not merely offer an alternative league; it fractured fields, diluted competitive meaning, triggered legal warfare, undermined sponsorship stability, and forced structural change across all of professional golf. Koepka was not a passive bystander; he was a marquee legitimizer.”

Chamblee also stated that if Koepka is being allowed, then others might follow suit, and the league will lose its credibility as a premier golf league. Thus, with things looking pretty murky, it now remains to be seen what happens next.