He may be the 244th-ranked player in the world but with one stunning decision, Brooks Koepka has become golf’s most interesting man . . . again.
Koepka has been the best golfer in the world and, at times, the game’s most intriguing personality — but as we race toward 2026, the former seems like a distant memory while, as of Tuesday evening, he has wrested back the latter title.
Koepka has officially moved on from Smash GC and his own LIV Golf experiment, a 3.5-year journey that rewarded him generational wealth. Which means his next move — paving a Life after LIV, while still in his playing prime — will be analyzed and anticipated by everyone from Justin Thomas to Joe Schmoe to John Henry. According to the complimentary public statements, Koepka will spend more time with his family. But after that…
Who knows?
And that might be the point.
Koepka has almost always enjoyed laying his cards on the table and letting others talk about it — barring the occasional Brandel Chamblee diatribe. This is the man who posed naked for ESPN’s Body Issue, has frequently sparred with journalists in press conferences and even landed a made-for-TV golf event rooted entirely in his disdain for Bryson DeChambeau. He is so at ease turning heel — his anti-establishment mindset so blatantly obvious — that the golf public has come to expect it from him. That pithy, “It’s fashion, bro” comment he made to a golf writer years ago? His agency trademarked it.
But as to the question on everyone’s mind — what will Koepka the golfer do next? — you can assume a couple of dozen people have inside info. His agent. His family. It’s a safe bet that Rory McIlroy has some idea of Koepka’s intentions, their career trajectories forever linked and their bond undamaged by Koepka’s initial move to LIV. It even feels likely that the PGA Tour has a clue. The Tour knew of Koepka’s intent to announce his decision Tuesday. In the wake of LIV’s “Thank you, Brooks Koepka” message, the Tour issued a statement so opaque that it borders on not worth including:
Brooks Koepka is a highly accomplished professional, and we wish him and his family continued success.
The PGA Tour continues to offer the best professional golfers the most competitive, challenging and lucrative environment in which to pursue greatness.
There were signs this could be coming. Two weeks ago, Sports Business Journal reported such a decision could be in the works. But as with all things LIV Golf and the playing decisions of its staffers — as evidenced by Jon Rahm’s December surprise two years ago — nothing is ever certain. You just have to wait, watch and act only when the league — or, in this case, leagues — make it official.
There has long been a jocky looseness to Koepka’s decisions — this is a guy who dyed his hair blonde in the months before his wedding — but his move to LIV was no lark. It came in 2022, when he was racking up more injuries than victories and pondering whether his career as an elite player might be cooked. The timing coincided neatly with the year when Saudi funding upended the sport, and Koepka saw a fat check on offer, eventually committing to four years. And yet, throughout his time at LIV, during which he won four times, it never fully seemed like he was all-in on the league. When his fellow captains gushed about the league’s momentum, he was far more measured. When he won the 2023 PGA Championship, he was given every opportunity to make it a victory for LIV. He never took the bait. Now, on the eve of that contract’s final year, the sides have “amicably” parted ways. All that seems to make sense are these 16 words from Koepka’s representatives:
“Brooks remains passionate about the game of golf and will keep fans updated on what’s ahead.”
It’s intentionally vague wording but suggests that, when it comes to pro golf, Brooks isn’t going anywhere. So please keep watching. The PGA Tour’s stance on ex-LIVers has often called for a 12-month ban following a player’s last LIV start. For Koepka, that restriction would lift in late August, coincidentally the final week of the ’26 PGA Tour season, barring a sudden change of heart at Tour HQ. He will be able to earn exemptions into DP World Tour events, which are littered across Europe, but will likely direct much of his attention toward the four majors, for which he is exempt, and where sports books will give him a puncher’s chance — he’s won five of them — and plenty of punters will take the bet.
Koepka’s current form doesn’t deserve that level of respect; DataGolf ranks him 158th in the world. As he steps forward into unknown territory, it’s unclear what sanctions he’d face in a return to the Tour he willfully left. But it’s at least worth examining what he’s given us lately.
In a busy pro-golf stretch this fall, as the world set its gaze upon Bethpage Black and the Ryder Cup, Koepka quietly played four events on the DP World Tour, by way of three sponsor invites. The form he showed was that of a man in search of something: a missed cut at the Irish Open, followed by another MC one week later at Wentworth. All after a T47-T29-T50 finish to his LIV season.
But then, a not-so-subtle blip of brilliance: a T4 finish at the Open de France, just one week before the Ryder Cup. And the week after the Cup, a T15 at the Dunhill Links.
It was a month-long reminder of what Koepka’s career has felt like: daring us to write him off only to resurface again and ask why we ever bothered to look away.
