The PGA Tour has made its move.
On Monday, CEO Brian Rolapp announced Brooks Koepka was returning to the PGA Tour and would do so at the 2026 Farmers Insurance Open later this month. He’ll also be in the field the following week at the WM Phoenix Open.
Koepka’s return doesn’t come without penalties for going to LIV Golf, though. Under the terms of the new Returning Member Program, which was created to give Koepka along with Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith a path back to the Tour, Koepka will not be eligible to earn equity from the Tour’s Player Equity Program for the next five years, which the Tour estimates could cost him between $50 million and $80 million. He will also not receive any FedEx Cup bonus payment in 2026 and will make a $5 million donation to an agreed-upon charity.
Koepka is exempt into all full-field events on the ’26 schedule and The Players. He’ll also be eligible for the U.S. Presidents Cup team this year. But Koepka will have to play his way into the lucrative signature events on the schedule. He is ineligible for sponsor exemptions into those fields.
In a letter to fans, PGA Tour fans, members and more, Rolapp penned his thoughts:
“As the 2026 PGA Tour season begins this week at the Song Open in Hawaii, I wanted to provide an update to our fans on recent player developments that have been in the news, as well as the PGA Tour’s response to this unique situation.
“Since becoming CEO last year, my primary focus has been a commitment to our fans to create the best version of te PGA Tour. I promised that together we would respect the past while building the future, challenging ourselves to reach new fans and create a Tour that both reflects the best of sports competition and retains the elite competitive environment our fans expect every week.
“I’ve been fortunate to hear and learn from so many of our fans on what makes the PGA Tour special, along with the ways we can further enhance the drama and consequence of competing at the highest level of the game. And one thing has been clear from each of these conversations — you all want the best players in the world competing against each other more often.
“On Dec. 23, 2025, Brooks Koepka notified the PGA Tour that his previous affiliation has concluded, and he subsequently applied for reinstatement of Tour membership. This prompted our boards to evaluate how we deliver the best version of the PGA Tour for our fans, players and partners — with severe and justified consequences — which has resulted in our new Returning Member Program.
“Designed to provided an alternative path back to PGA Tour competition for past members who have achieved the highest accomplishments in the game, the Returning Member 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. It also includes elite performance-based criteria that requires winning the Players Championship, Masters Tournament, PGA Championship, U.S. Open or the Open Championship between 2022 and 2025.
“Its strict limitations, which Brooks has agreed to, include a five-year forfeiture of potential equity in the PGA Tour’s Player Equity Program, representing one of the largest financial repercussions in professional sports history, with estimations that he could miss out on approximately $50 million to $85 million in potential earnings, depending on his competitive performance and the growth of the Tour. At the request of the PGA Tour, Brooks has also agreed to make a $5 million charitable contribution, the recipient(s) of which will be determined jointly.
“Importantly, the Returning Member Program will not take away playing opportunities for current members — fields will be expanded as needed.
“Other eligible players interested in seeking PGA Tour reinstatement must do so by the time the Returning Member Program closes on Monday, Feb. 2. This is a one-time, defined window and does not set a precedent for future situations. Once the door closes, there is no promise that this path will be available again.
“We will continue to aggressively pursue anything that enhances the fan experience and makes the PGA Tour stronger. This is part of our commitment to fans, who expect the world’s best players to compete on the PGA Tour week in and week out.”
Rolapp’s letter makes a couple things clear: 1) allowing Brooks Koepka to return is in an effort to make the PGA Tour stronger; 2) there are opportunities for others to come if they accept by Feb. 2; 3) returning players will face significant financial penalties; and 4) current members won’t be affected by returning players when it comes to filling fields.
But it also puts the PGA Tour in a position of power, inviting back Koepka while opening the door for others. But will they follow? They have three weeks to make a decision.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp pens letter after Brooks Koepka’s return
