'The Tour Is Doing Fine Without Brooks Koepka,' Says Chamblee

Earlier this year, there were many rumors about LIV Golf defections spreading around.  They started coming up because several former PGA Tour stars had LIV contracts that were about to expire.  This included players like Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka.  The talks only grew as the PGA-LIV merger stalled again and again.  However, there is a path for players like Koepka to get back in the PGA, but those star players may need to jump through a few more hoops.

Brooks Koepka and LIV Golf

Despite splitting with the PGA early into LIV Golf’s run, Brooks Koepka has had a few words about the start-up league.  Back in March, he went as far as saying that the league is “behind where we should be.”  Behind financially, in viewership, and in sponsorship.  If the league stays behind, it might not live to see another year.  There is a lot that goes into keeping a league running.  However, if the league were to go under tomorrow, players on the PGA are eager to play with the LIV players again outside of majors.  Unfortunately for those LIV players, they will need to jump through a couple of hoops before they are welcomed back.

Brandel Chamblee On What Will happen

In the past, Brandel Chamblee has never been shy about criticising LIV Golf.  He and Rory McIlroy are competing to be the league’s number one hater.  Before Chamblee has bashed the league for its low viewership numbers, often dwarfed by any PGA tournament.  When Chamblee went on Trey Wingo’s Straight Facts Homie Podcast, they started talking about how many contracts were due to expire as soon as this year.  The conversation turned towards how players like Koepka could come back.  Chamblee said:

“I know everybody will say, ‘We want Brooks back straight away’. Well, the Tour is doing fine without Brooks Koepka, they’re doing fine without Phil Mickelson, they’re doing fine without Dustin Johnson, doing fine without Jon Rahm. There has to be some penalty.  Let’s not forget, the Tour had to spend a lot of money to fight that litigation and eventually end that litigation. A lot of their rainy day fund would have gone to waste.“

The line about the PGA Tour doing fine without the players like Koepka is what should sting them the most.  Financially and ratings-wise, these players don’t have a lasting impact on the PGA.  Players like Dustin Johnson even started fading from the public eye.

Koepka And The Return Of Other Players

As of 2025, Brooks Koepka is still under contract, and that contract won’t expire until the end of 2026.  Currently, LIV Golf is facing numerous issues; the league is being kept afloat by the deep pockets of the PIF.  The PGA is in a position of power over LIV Golf and is willing to show it.  The LIV players, like Koepka, want to play, but if or when they leave, will the PGA Tour welcome them back?  In order for them to be even considered for coming back, they will need to prove themselves again.