Could Brooks Koepka return to the PGA Tour? How much would it cost to leave LIV?
The 5-time major champion seems to be happy with his decision to join the Saudi-backed tour. Good thing because it would be hard to get out of his LIV contract.
Brooks Koepka, the five-time major champion, made headlines not only for his golfing prowess but also for his move to LIV Golf, the breakaway golf league. The decision to join LIV Golf came with a hefty price tag, and now fans and analysts wonder whether Koepka could potentially return to the PGA Tour.
How much would it cost Koepka to get out of his LIV Golf contract?
Koepka reportedly received $100 million as a signing bonus for joining LIV Golf. His contract, like that of most of his companions, is for four years and ends at the end of the 2025 season. According to Sports Illustrated, golfers playing on the LIV Tour would have to pay three to four times their signing bonus if they want out of their contract. Yep, that would be as much as $600 million dollars.
Koepka says he knew what he was getting into and he has 100 million reasons to be happy playing in a second-tier tour, but the competition on the PGA is much more intense than on the Saudi-backed tour.
So, the answer to the question about Koepka getting out of his contract is NO. At least not until 2026 when his contract ends with LIV golf. Despite rumors that Koepka isn’t happy on the new tour, there’s not much he can do to leave in the near future. Back in February 2023 Alan Shipnuck wrote on the The Fire Pit Collective website that Koepka had regrets.
“I’m hearing a lot of rumblings that Brooks Koepka has buyer’s remorse. The guy has one of the biggest egos in golf, and as the PGA Tour creates ever-increasing buzz with its elevated events and even the state-sanctioned TGL, Koepka has to feel like he’s on the outside looking in.”
While fans may hope for Koepka’s return to the PGA Tour, the financial hurdles make it unlikely in the near future. For now, we watch as Koepka continues to tee off in LIV Golf, knowing that his decision carries both sporting and financial weight.