Brooks Koepka Seeks Tiger Woods' Counsel for PGA Tour Comeback
Brooks Koepka has revealed that the first person he contacted after being released from his LIV Golf contract was Tiger Woods, seeking advice on his return to the PGA Tour. The five-time major champion ended his deal with the Saudi-backed series a year early, citing a desire to spend more time at home with his family.
Immediate Consultation with a Golf Icon
Koepka explained that upon his release on December 23rd, he promptly called Woods, who serves as chairman of the PGA Tour's Future Competitions Committee alongside his legendary 15-major career. "I think the 23rd I was released and then called Tiger right away, then that process got the ball rolling," Koepka stated ahead of his comeback event, the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines.
He emphasised his longstanding rapport with Woods, noting, "I've always had a good relationship with Tiger. That was what I wanted to do once I had the opportunity to, I guess, get reinstated on the PGA Tour." Koepka admitted feeling uncertain about the process, adding, "It was exciting and I kind of really didn't know what to do. That was the first person that kind of came to mind."
Navigating New Leadership and Personal Motivations
The golfer acknowledged his lack of familiarity with new commissioner Brian Rolapp, planning to contact former commissioner Jay Monahan next. "I felt like Tiger was somebody that I've relied on in the past for questions and answers and how to deal with things," Koepka reflected, "and I felt like that was maybe the most comfortable call for me."
Koepka's decision to return began crystallising around the Ryder Cup in September, following personal family challenges—his wife Jena disclosed a miscarriage in October. Once resolved, his transition happened rapidly, with the PGA Tour amending regulations to create a specific window for his reinstatement, alongside fellow LIV defectors Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith.
Embracing a New Chapter with Gratitude
Expressing no regrets about his career path, Koepka remarked, "I don't regret anything I do. I've learned a lot. I've always enjoyed the ride no matter where I'm at." He confessed to nerves ahead of his return, particularly for media engagements, saying, "I think the nervousness probably was more for this (press conference), to get this out of the way to be quite fair. I'm maybe a little bit 'antsy' to get to Thursday just so I can get back to playing golf."
Koepka extended gratitude to key figures facilitating his comeback: "For Brian Rolapp, Jay, Tiger, everybody that was able to get me out here, I'm super grateful for it and I'm excited." When questioned about the unresolved rift between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour—stemming from a framework deal agreed nearly three years ago—he responded, "I have no clue. I've not been a part of the conversations on either side. It's out of my hands and my job is to go play golf and tee it up on Thursday."
