Big things are happening, and Brooks Koepka is right in the thick of it. We all remember Alan Shipnuck’s words from 2023 when Koepka admitted to having “buyer’s remorse” after switching sides and that he was already “rethinking his career choice.” Leading up to his LIV Golf switch, frustrations were palpable. Netflix’s docuseries Full Swing cuts open the fiercely competitive beast at his absolute rock bottom—beaten at the WM Phoenix Open in 2022 and missing the cut at the Masters: “I’ll be honest with you. I can’t compete with these guys week in and week out.” At best, Koepka leaving for LIV Golf was a decision that was far too short-sighted for his brittle body that was yet to be put back together. Is it really too wild to think of a homecoming in the coming days?

For one, Koepka’s four-year contract with LIV will run out by the end of the 2025 season, and because we haven’t seen such a situation arise before, uncertainty about what the future holds for him has been looming. The contention here is that his expired contract could mean that he may return to the PGA Tour. But we don’t know if his suspension from the Tour will carry over to the 2026 season. Another moving part to this story is that the LIV Golf and the PGA Tour are reportedly inching closer to finalizing a merger that could see the latter’s players returning to PGA Tour events as early as next month—possibly even at The Players!

Well, if his recent TGL appearance is any hint, something interesting might be brewing! As reported by ‘Golf_com’ on Instagram, Koepka was spotted at the SoFi Center, casually hanging out with Max Homa and Tom Kim—two key players on Tiger Woods’s TGL team, Jupiter Links. “Brooks Koepka is checking out TGL tonight,” ‘Golf_com’ mentioned in the caption. Now, why is this significant?

For starters, Koepka wasn’t just there as a spectator; his presence among PGA Tour loyalists has fans speculating whether he was testing the waters for a possible comeback. Further, Koepka has admitted that he judges his success by performance in majors. “The majors were terrible. I put a lot of emphasis on those, and just cutting those wasn’t—that’s how I judge my year,” he said during LIV Golf Chicago last year. That sentiment alone suggests that if the opportunity arose for LIV players to participate freely in PGA Tour events, Koepka might be tempted to reconsider his current path. But wait!

The discussion isn’t even close to being done. Here is a catch; he might stay with LIV.

He has publicly stated that he has no regrets about joining LIV. “I’m fine, I’m satisfied, I’m content with every decision I’ve made. I knew everything I was getting into,” Koepka said in an interview in 2023. And let’s be honest—Koepka has thrived in LIV’s format. The team aspect, the financial security, and the more relaxed schedule have suited him well. He has won events, competed at a high level, and doesn’t seem to carry the same frustration some other LIV players have shown about being excluded from the PGA Tour. If LIV continues to offer a competitive platform with access to majors, Koepka might see no urgent reason to jump ship.

Earlier this month, while praising LIV Adelaide, Koepka profoundly said, “This is the one event every year that we look forward to coming back,” he said before sharing: “We’ve got the most fans, the most energy.” And he didn’t stop there.

“That’s what LIV Golf is about. Make it fun for the players, make it fun for the fans and families that come out, and I think this event just proves exactly what we’ve been trying to do year after year. This is the pinnacle of our events, and hopefully in the future this is the bar that we set.” This does not sound like someone who is planning to exit.

Koepka’s message seems clear as of now—he’s loving LIV. But does that mean he’s staying for the long haul?

Can a LIV Player even return to the PGA Tour?

The rules are clear. LIV players are prohibited from playing in PGA Tour events. If it weren’t for this rule, perhaps names like Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, and Phil Mickelson would have been eligible to play in The PLAYERS Championship. But what if a player wants to leave LIV and join the PGA Tour?

As it stands, any LIV golfer who wants to return to the PGA Tour must apply for reinstatement, and there’s no guarantee it would be granted.

Back in 2023, Jimmy Dunne (the PGA Tour policy board member) stated: “Players on the LIV [tour] that wanted to reinstate into the PGA Tour would go through a process [and] suspension… Whatever the penalty was, they’d have to decide whether they wanted to do that or not and then they could play.”

However, with a merger seemingly on the horizon, the pathway back could be much smoother than expected. Tiger Woods himself has been vocal about unifying the game, and earlier this month, stated: “I think things are going to heal quickly. We’re going to get this game going in the right direction. It has been headed in the wrong direction for a number of years. The fans want all the top players playing together and we’re going to make that happen.”

If the PGA Tour and LIV Golf reach an agreement, it could open the door for players like Koepka to compete in both circuits—something that seemed impossible just a year ago. That means he wouldn’t necessarily have to choose one over the other; he could get the best of both worlds. What do you think?