Brooks Koepka’s four-year contract with LIV Golf expires on the finish of the 2025 season, which has left many to invest about the place the five-time main winner will play in 2026.
Might he play on the PGA Tour once more? Or will he stay with LIV Golf?
Final week, Fred {Couples} put this resolution within the limelight as he indicated that Koepka yearned to return to the PGA Tour.
“I speak to Brooks Koepka on a regular basis,” {Couples} instructed Seattle’s KJR 93.3 FM on Mar. 3.
“He desires to come back again. I’ll say that: I imagine he actually desires to come back again and play the Tour.”
Quick ahead to this week. Koepka, who tied for thirty fifth final week in Hong Kong, is in Singapore for the fourth LIV Golf occasion of the season. He addressed the feedback {Couples} made on Wednesday.
“Fred texted me after the feedback got here out. I don’t know when it was — someday final week. Yeah, everyone appears to have their very own opinion and nobody asks me,” Koepka mentioned.
“I talked to Fred fairly a bit, however we don’t go an excessive amount of into element about what’s happening. Like I’ve mentioned earlier than, I’m not in these rooms. I’ve acquired a contract obligation out right here to meet, after which we’ll see what occurs.”
Koepka then mentioned the PGA Tour rumors head-on, failing to decide to both LIV Golf or the tour.
“I don’t know the place I’m going, so I don’t understand how everyone else does,” Koepka added.
“Proper now I’m simply centered on how do I play higher, how do I play higher within the majors, how does this workforce win, after which we’ll determine subsequent 12 months and how you can play higher once more. It’s the identical factor. It’s only a revolving cycle. I’ve acquired nothing. Everyone else appears to know greater than I do.”
Three years in the past, on the U.S. Open at Brookline, Koepka arrived in Massachusetts as a newly married man. He had hung out away from the PGA Tour to deal with his wedding ceremony, as he performed in solely two occasions within the two earlier months: The Masters and the PGA Championship.
However probably the most distinguished subject of dialogue that week revolved round LIV Golf. The Saudi-backed circuit had simply held its first occasion in London, the place Koepka’s brother, Chase, performed and tied for thirty third together with the Phil Mickelson.
The temper at The Nation Membership was full of trepidation, as any one of many high gamers on the earth, together with Koepka, might bounce to LIV at a second’s discover. No one knew what the way forward for skilled golf seemed like. Rumors of potential LIV prospects additionally percolated across the property all week.
“LIV is making an attempt to make a giant push for golf,” Koepka mentioned in his pre-tournament press convention at Brookline.
“I like my brother. I assist him in something he does. It’s household. I’ll all the time love and assist him. No matter he does, I’m cheering for him.”
Koepka was then requested why he determined to remain on the PGA Tour.
“There’s been no different choice thus far, so the place else are you going to go?” Koepka mentioned.
“As of final week. That’s it. I wasn’t enjoying final week. I’m right here. I’m right here on the U.S. Open. I’m able to play U.S. Open, and I feel it type of sucks, too, you’re all throwing this black cloud over the U.S. Open. It’s certainly one of my favourite occasions. I don’t know why you guys maintain doing that.
“The extra legs you give it, the extra you retain speaking about it.”
Reporters then pressed Koepka additional.
“I haven’t given it that a lot — I haven’t given it that a lot thought,” Koepka mentioned.
“I don’t perceive. I’m making an attempt to deal with the U.S. Open, man. I legitimately don’t get it. I’m uninterested in the conversations. I’m uninterested in all these items.
“Like I mentioned, y’all are throwing a black cloud on the U.S. Open. I feel that sucks. I really do really feel unhealthy for them for as soon as as a result of it’s a shitty state of affairs. We’re right here to play, and you’re speaking about an occasion that occurred final week.”
Not even two weeks after Koepka sat earlier than the press at The Nation Membership, the five-time main winner had a tee time at LIV Golf Portland, the league’s second occasion. He has performed on LIV ever since. He additionally turned the primary lively LIV Golf participant to win a significant the next 12 months at Oak Hill, so Koepka has no regrets about switching excursions.
But, revisiting his feedback is fascinating. Koepka by no means indicated that he was LIV Golf sure in Massachusetts, however by no means dominated it out. He didn’t disparage the Saudi-backed circuit, referencing the “shitty” state of affairs many gamers discovered themselves in. The press slammed any participant who joined LIV Golf, citing their greed and affiliation with an authoritative regime.
He struck an analogous vein this week in Singapore, not ruling out a PGA Tour return. Who is aware of how issues will play out. But when Koepka’s feedback from the 2022 U.S. Open function any indication, him enjoying on the PGA Tour once more is undoubtedly on the desk.
Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Enjoying Via. Comply with him on X @jack_milko.