Even before Koepka’s exit, the ‘Scientist’ was the face of the league. Now, he holds all the cards in his hands. An analysis.
First the news: Brooks Koepka’s return to the driving range at Torrey Pines was met with neither hostility nor warmth from former and current colleagues. At most, a friendly indifference greeted the LIV returnee; even Wyndham Clark, a known skeptic of the PGA Tour’s Returning Member Program, remained unobtrusive.
Phone Call with Tiger Woods
‘I’m excited. There are definitely players happy, and definitely others angry. Some won’t be pleased with how things played out,’ the 35-year-old said some time ago. At a press conference for the Farmers Insurance Open, he thanked everyone for the opportunity and revealed that his first call upon receiving clearance to leave LIV was to Tiger Woods, the influential figure behind the scenes at Ponte Vedra Beach.
‘I wasn’t exactly sure how to approach things with the PGA Tour, and Tiger was the first person who came to mind, as I’ve always had a good relationship with him.’ Koepka knows whose approval truly matters.
‘I look forward to this new chapter in my career and am thrilled to be here. I am very grateful to Brian Rolapp, Jay Monahan, Tiger Woods, and everyone who made this possible.’
Brooks Koepka
LIV Dynamics Greatly Changed
This article is about Bryson DeChambeau, but the Koepka case is essential as introduction. The departure of the Florida giant has significantly altered the dynamics of the LIV Golf League. The Saudi-backed circuit suddenly lost a key asset accounting for 33.3% of its star power.
Koepka was a player who made a statement publicly as a five-time major winner, accompanied by the glamorous Jena Sims, and was one of only two LIV players to win a major during their time on the rival circuit. The other is DeChambeau, a two-time U.S. Open champion in 2020 and 2024, and an exceptional figure in many respects.
Only DeChambeau and Rahm as Valuable Assets
The third valuable asset is arguably Jon Rahm, not just in a European context. Beyond them, LIV’s player roster fades into insignificance. A bit of Sergio Garcia and Joaquin Niemann perhaps. Patrick Reed stands out due to accusations of dishonesty and cheating, although he recently won the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. Dustin Johnson missing the cut in the same event drew little attention. Tyrrell Hatton is clearly more interesting than Cameron Smith. And who was Phil Mickelson again?
Rory McIlroy is right to say, ‘They haven’t signed anyone who moves the needle and I don’t think they will.’
Only Majors and YouTube?
This brings us firmly back to Bryson DeChambeau. LIV lives or dies by the 32-year-old Texas-based