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| Tuesday Jan 13, 2026 |
Brooks Koepka is being allowed to return to the PGA Tour in 2026 via the new Returning Player Program. Koepka qualified for the program via his 2023 PGA Championship victory, but he will pay a severe financial cost. CEO Brian Rolapp says the program “mandates heavy and appropriate limitations to both tournament access and potential earnings that we believe properly holds returning members accountable for substantial compensation earned elsewhere."
What does that look like for Koepka?
▪️ He will be ineligible for 2026 FedEx Cup Bonus payouts.
▪️ He has agreed to make a $5 million charitable donation to an organization that he and PGA Tour will determine.
▪️ He will forfeit potential equity in the PGA Tour’s Player Equity Program for a period of five years.
That adds up to between $55 million and $90 million, according to PGA Tour estimates.
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DrinkTanks: Appoints Read the Greens, Golf Media Inc., as its public relations agency of record. Read the Greens will initiate a targeted public relations and media campaign for the Drink Tanks at the PGA Show. ... Johnnie-O: Signs PGA Tour players Jake Knapp and J.T. Poston to multiyear endorsement contracts that will activate at this week's Sony Open in Hawaii. ... East West Matches: Names USGA champions Trip Kuehne and Paul Simson as the respective team captains for the 2026 Matches at Maridoe Golf Club in Carrollton, Texas, Nov. 6-8.
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▪️ Brooks Koepka returns to PGA Tour under stiff financial penalty just 5 weeks after leaving LIV Golf
[Doug Ferguson | Associated Press | Read]
▪️ Brooks Koepka says he has ‘a lot of work to do’ with PGA Tour players upon his return
[Doug Ferguson | Associated Press | Read]
▪️ Inside the PGA Tour's shocking decision to allow Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm back
[Joel Beall | Golf Digest | Read]
▪️ LIV Golf responds to Koepka / PGA Tour news and it sounds awfully familiar
[Dave Shedloski | Golf Digest | Read]
▪️ Brooks Koepka is returning to PGA Tour. Here are 10 questions you might have
[Dylan Dethier | Golf.com | Read]
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