Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed’s Return to the PGA Tour
Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed, two of the most recognizable faces of golf’s recent upheaval, are officially back on the PGA Tour after stepping away from LIV Golf. Their return marks a major shift in the sport’s ever changing landscape and is a huge hindrance to the future of the LIV Golf tour. Both Koepka and Reed were central figures in LIV’s rise, bringing star power, major championship credentials, and plenty of controversy to the breakaway league. Now, their decision to return signals more than a simple change of schedule.
It raises new questions about the future of professional golf, the state of the Tour’s relationship with LIV, and what this move means for players still caught between the two circuits. As fans and golf pundits react, Koepka and Reed’s comeback could prove to be one of the most important storylines of the season, reshaping competitive dynamics and reigniting rivalries on golf’s biggest stage. Let’s take a look at what made these players move and what is next for them and both tours.
Brooks Koepka
Brooks Koepka’s departure from LIV Golf was confirmed at the end of the 2025 season when he and LIV agreed on an early, “amicable” release of his contract, which still had another year to run. His exit made him the first player to formally quit the Saudi-backed league, and it reflected a mix of personal and professional factors, including reported frustration with LIV’s progress and a stronger desire to be closer to home and his family, particularly after challenging personal matters in 2025.
Soon after leaving, Koepka successfully applied for reinstatement to the PGA Tour under a new Returning Member Program the Tour had introduced. That program allows top players from LIV Golf (like Koepka) to rejoin the PGA Tour under specific conditions, including forfeiting eligibility for player equity shares for five years, making a significant charitable donation, and not receiving FedEx Cup bonus money in 2026.
He is expected to play regular PGA Tour events again starting with tournaments like the Farmers Insurance Open and WM Phoenix Open, and he remains exempt through at least the 2028 season thanks to his previous major wins.
Koepka’s return is a high-profile boost for the PGA Tour, potentially signaling a shift in the competitive landscape and offering him routines back in the strongest weekly fields in golf.
Both Koepka and Reed were central figures in LIV’s rise, bringing star power, major championship credentials, and plenty of controversy to the breakaway league. Their return marks a major shift in the sport’s ever changing landscape and is a huge hindrance to the future of the LIV Golf tour.
Patrick Reed
Patrick Reed left LIV Golf in early 2026 after deciding to pursue a return to the PGA Tour, ending roughly four seasons with the Saudi-backed league. One immediate factor was contractual: Reed revealed he had not yet signed a new LIV deal for 2026, leaving him effectively a free agent and able to reassess his future.
Beyond contract issues, his decision also reflected competitive and personal motivations. Reed indicated that he missed the intensity and week-to-week competition of traditional tours and described himself as “a traditionalist at heart,” suggesting a strong attachment to the PGA Tour’s history and structure. Analysts have also noted that players like Reed increasingly value world-ranking points, major-championship access, and the prestige of established tours, factors that have influenced several LIV departures.
What comes next for Reed is a gradual pathway back rather than an immediate full-time return. He has been cleared for an eventual PGA Tour comeback but is expected to spend much of 2026 playing on the DP World Tour and seeking sponsor invitations or qualifying spots in PGA Tour events as a non-member. He is eligible to play PGA Tour events later in 2026 and aims to reinstate full membership in 2027, likely through past-champion status or improved ranking results.
In short, Reed’s exit reflects a mix of contract timing, competitive ambitions, and a desire to re-establish himself on golf’s most traditional circuit, with a staged return to the PGA Tour already underway.
What Next for Golf
The decisions by Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed to leave LIV Golf for the PGA Tour could signal a shift in men’s professional golf. High-profile returns strengthen PGA Tour fields, sponsors, and television appeal, and may encourage other players to reconsider their options. For LIV, losing recognizable major champions challenges its credibility and long-term roster stability, even if it continues to offer lucrative contracts. Overall, golf may move toward a more fluid era, with players switching tours more often and both circuits competing harder on scheduling, prize funds, and global events.
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Jack Guing
Jack hails from County Offaly in Ireland and joins the team as a Content Writer and Performance Analyst. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English and History from Maynooth University and a master’s degree in Sports Performance from the University of Limerick. Jack is a keen sports fan with a love for performance analysis and wishes to use this data-driven style that is seen in performance analysis in his writing to deliver informative predictions.