Koepka nervous about PGA Tour return and must rebuild relationships

Brooks Koepka will return to the PGA Tour at the Farmers Insurance Open under a one-time Returning Member Program and says he is nervous about repairing relationships with other players.

Brooks Koepka expects a nervous energy when he returns to a regular PGA Tour event for the first time in four years at the Farmers Insurance Open. He is the first player invited back after leaving for LIV Golf in 2022 and was allowed to rejoin under a one-time Returning Member Program approved by the PGA Tour board. Koepka said some players will be happy to see him and others will be angry, and he acknowledged he has "a lot of work to do" to rebuild relationships. He described the penalties set by the tour as painful but accepted them and said he intends to have private conversations with teammates away from the media. Key facts: - Koepka was permitted to return under a one-time Returning Member Program that applies to players who have won a major or The Players Championship since 2022. - Penalties tied to his return include a $5 million contribution to a tour-selected charity, no access to FedEx Cup bonus money in 2026, no sponsor exemptions to the $20 million signature events, and no equity grants in the PGA Tour for five years. - The PGA Tour estimated the financial repercussions could range from $50 million to $85 million based on projected performance levels. - Koepka said there was "no negotiating" with PGA Tour leadership about the terms and that the penalties are intended to be painful; he said he understands why the tour imposed them. - He is scheduled to return at Torrey Pines on Jan. 29 for the Farmers Insurance Open and also plans to play the WM Phoenix Open. Summary: Koepka's return alters the field and the social dynamic among players, with reactions expected to vary inside and outside the ropes. He has accepted specific financial and participation penalties and says he will seek private conversations to rebuild relationships; his next competitive appearances are at Torrey Pines on Jan. 29 and the WM Phoenix Open.