With Brooks Koepka leaving LIV, the biggest question is whether or not he will play on the PGA Tour. Bryson DeChambeau finds it to be a very sensitive topic, as he understands what this return, without any repercussions, could mean.

“I don’t know, man. I don’t know what they should allow or not. If they’re going to be doing it by the book, they should do it by the book and not give any special exemption,” DeChambeau told Tom Hobbs of Flushing It. “But if there’s a special exemption, it definitely opens the doors for others to do the same, which, you know, it’s a slippery slope for sure.”

The rules in the official PGA Tour handbook say players must wait exactly one year before they can compete on the Tour again. And as Koepka played his last LIV match in August 2025, he cannot be eligible to even reapply for his Tour card until late summer ’26. But note that when the news of Koepka’s exit broke, the PGA Tour acted fast, issuing a cryptic and hollow message within 23 minutes; maybe hinting at his return?

The rumors about Koepka‘s exit started way back in February 2025 when fans saw him with Tiger Woods, Max Homa, and Tom Kim during a TGL event. This surprise appearance was the first crack. A month later, Fred Couples told everyone that Koepka really wanted to be back on the PGA Tour, as he craved the weekly grind and the Tour life.

Now, if the Tour ignores the one-year rule, many other players might suddenly decide to follow him back.

And analyst Brandel Chamblee recently voiced a very strong warning about letting Koepka return without any real cost. Chamblee believes that a return with zero consequences would completely destroy the meritocratic foundation of the traditional PGA tour. Chamblee argues that this is not about revenge but about setting a fair example for every future golfer.

“Allowing Brooks Koepka to return to the PGA Tour with no consequence would undermine the very meritocratic foundations that make the PGA Tour legitimate,” wrote Chamblee on X.

Furthermore, Chamblee reminded everyone that Koepka was not just pa assive bystander but a marquee legitimizer for LIv. And his presence made the new circuit look viable while the fields on the PGA Tour became significantly weaker. So, now allowing an easy path back sends a very bad signal to every loyal player. Chamblee even suggested Kopeka should have to requalify through the Korn Ferry Tour through Monday Qs.

And while DeChambeau and Chamblee want strict rules, other current Tour pros like Harry Higgs and Michael S. Kim expect Koepka to have a smoother path than many other defectors.

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Why are Bryson DeChambeau’s comments significant?

DeChambeau is currently in the middle of his contract renewal. He wants to sign an early extension before the new 2026 season begins in Riyadh next February. And unlike others, he has found his perfect rhythm and won over fourteen million dollars in 2025 alone. He finished third on the money list and wants his team, Crushers GC, to become a global brand with real value for the future. Bryson also helps LIV Golf to reach a wider audience through his successful YouTube fame.

DeChambeau’s presence helped his team, Crushers GC, to land a major deal with the tech giant Qualcomm and Reebok. And things have changed since Koepka left. It left the league in a position where DeChambeau is now the most important American star left in the entire Saudi-backed golf league, who won the 2024 US Open and played the 2025 Ryder Cup in New York.

But it’s not just the LIV Golf that needs DeChambeau. DeChambeau also has a symbiotic relationship with the rebel league itself. DeChambeau’s entire social media presence will be affected if he returns to the PGA Tour, as the PGA Tour holds the exclusive rights to all video and audio content and does not allow players to film YouTube videos (or other commercial content) on the course during official tournaments.

And Koepka’s move is not the endgame for the Saudi-based league. Not yet. They are changing fast under the leadership of their new CEO, who replaced Greg Norman in early 2025. O’Neil handled the departure of Koepka in a very calm way. And LIV Golf will switch to seventy-two-hole tournaments starting in the upcoming 2026 season to improve the OWGR points.