What could Brooks Koepka’s appearance at TGL mean for his future in LIV Golf?
Tuesday night’s TGL match between Jupiter Links Golf Club and The Bay does not feature Tiger Woods or Ludvig Åberg, both of whom opted out of the competition.
However, Brooks Koepka was present, enjoying the atmosphere at the SoFi Center for the first time. His wife Jenna joined him, and photos captured the Koepkas interacting with Max Homa, Shane Lowry, and others before the match began.
The five-time major champion, last winning at the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill, joined LIV Golf in 2022. Since then, LIV has been in direct competition with the PGA Tour, both circuits vying for dominance without crossover players. Nonetheless, the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), which finances LIV, signed a framework agreement with the PGA Tour in June 2023, three weeks after Koepka’s victory in Rochester. Negotiations have been ongoing, but a finalized agreement has yet to be reached, although it appears one may be close.
Koepka’s presence at TGL, which features only PGA Tour players, could suggest that an agreement between the two circuits is on the horizon. Alternatively, could TGL be eyeing a LIV Golf team acquisition? This would surely intrigue fans, as they currently see PGA Tour and LIV stars compete together only at the majors.
Moreover, Koepka might be contemplating a return to the PGA Tour. His four-year contract with LIV Golf is set to expire at the end of the 2025 season, creating a unique situation in professional golf. Will his expired contract allow him to rejoin the PGA Tour? Or will his suspension from the tour carry over into the 2026 season? Regardless, PGA Tour executives in Ponta Vedra Beach, Florida, would likely welcome Koepka back, considering he is a significant draw and one of the most successful major champions of recent decades.
That said, Koepka lives in South Florida and has maintained connections with many PGA Tour players. He might simply be curious about the TGL experience and eager to see his friends. Nevertheless, his appearance at the SoFi Center raises numerous questions about the future of professional golf.
In time, we hope to find answers to these questions, shedding light on how golf will evolve moving forward.
Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Follow him on X @jack_milko.
