Even before Brooks Koepka left, ‘The Scientist’ was the face of LIV Golf. Now, he holds all the cards in hand. An exclusive insight.
First, the latest: Brooks Koepka was met with neither hostility nor warm welcomes at his first appearance on the Torrey Pines driving range. The LIV returnee received little more than a friendly indifference, with even Wyndham Clark, a declared skeptic of the PGA Tour’s Returning Member Program, remaining calm so far.
Phone Call with Tiger
\”I’m excited. There are definitely players who are happy and definitely players who will be angry. Some won’t be happy about how things turned out,\” the 35-year-old had previously stated. During the press conference at the Farmers Insurance Open, he politely thanked for the opportunity and revealed that his first call after being cleared to leave LIV went to Tiger Woods, the influential figure behind the scenes in Ponte Vedra Beach.
\”I wasn’t sure exactly what to do or how to handle things with the PGA Tour, and Tiger was the first person I thought of because I always had a good relationship with him.\” Koepka knows exactly whose approval truly counts…
\”I’m looking forward to this new chapter in my career and am thrilled to be here. I’m very grateful to Brian Rolapp, Jay Monahan, Tiger Woods, and everyone who made this opportunity possible.\”
Brooks Koepka
Significant Shift in LIV Dynamics
But wait, isn’t this article about Bryson DeChambeau? It is, but without the Koepka situation as an introduction, it can’t be discussed properly. The departure of the Florida giant has drastically changed LIV Golf’s dynamics. The Saudi-backed league suddenly lost 33.3% of its key players.
Koepka was one of the few players who attracted public attention — a five-time major winner, with the glamorous Jena Sims by his side, and one of only two LIV players to have won a major championship during their time on the rival circuit. The other is DeChambeau, US Open Champion of 2020 and 2024, and certainly an exceptional figure in many regards.
Only DeChambeau and Rahm as Key Assets
The third valuable asset is Jon Rahm, not only from a European perspective. Beyond them, LIV’s player roster loses significance and influence. Some Sergio Garcia and Joaquin Niemann perhaps.
Patrick Reed stands out due to his controversial reputation and recent win at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. Dustin Johnson missing the cut at the same event goes largely unnoticed. Tyrrell Hatton is clearly more interesting than Cameron Smith. And who was Phil Mickelson again?
Rory McIlroy is right when he says: \”They haven’t signed anyone who makes a difference, and I don’t think they will.\”
Majors and YouTube?
Which brings us finally