1 month ago
NEWYou tin now perceive to Fox News articles!
Legendary golfer Tom Watson offered a blunt return nan caller programme that paved nan measurement for Brooks Koepka’s return to nan PGA Tour.
Koepka near LIV Golf successful December 2025. At nan clip of his departure, nan three-time PGA Championship victor had astir 1 twelvemonth remaining connected his statement pinch nan Saudi-backed circuit.
Koepka applied for PGA Tour reinstatement and quickly gained support nether nan tour's caller Returning Member Program. Watson, a two-time Masters champion who participated successful Thursday morning's ceremonial tee disconnected astatine Augusta National, voiced beardown disapproval astir nan process.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Brooks Koepka of nan United States reacts connected nan 5th greenish during nan 3rd information of nan Valspar Championship 2026 astatine Copperhead Course astatine Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club connected March 21, 2026 successful Palm Harbor, Florida. (James Gilbert/Getty Images)
"The Tour made a determination to renege connected what they promised erstwhile nan players near for LIV. They felt that nan compensation that he's paid is bully enough," Watson said astatine nan 90th version of nan Masters.
Watson past laid retired what he believes should hap going forward.
"I thought nan LIV players, erstwhile they left, they were expected to beryllium banned for life. If I was commissioner, that's what I would do. I'd opportunity if you're vanished pinch your statement pinch LIV Golf, if you want to play the PGA Tour again, you travel back, and you must play nan Korn Ferry Tour for a twelvemonth to suffice for it."
BROOKS KOEPKA'S ATTORNEY GIVES INSIDE LOOK INTO GOLFER'S LIV DEPARTURE, RETURN TO PGA TOUR
Koepka addressed his return to nan PGA Tour successful a station connected societal media.
"When I was a child, I ever dreamed astir competing connected nan PGA Tour, and I americium conscionable arsenic excited coming to denote that I americium returning to nan PGA Tour," Koepka said successful a connection posted to X connected Jan. 12. "Being person to location and spending much clip pinch my family makes this opportunity particularly meaningful to me. I judge successful wherever nan PGA Tour is headed pinch caller leadership, caller investors, and an equity programme that gives players a meaningful ownership stake."
"I besides understand location are financial penalties associated pinch this decision, and I judge those," his connection continued.
He agreed to 5 years successful nan subordinate equity programme — a punishment worthy up to $85 million, according to nan tour's CEO Brian Rolapp. The pro golfer besides committed to $5 cardinal successful kindness donations and will person to gain his measurement into nan tour's signature events.
Brooks Koepka reacts aft missing a putt connected nan eighth spread during nan 3rd information of nan U.S. Open play tourney astatine Oakmont Country Club Saturday, June 14, 2025, successful Oakmont, Pennsylvania. (Carolyn Kaster/AP)
Several LIV golfers — including Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith — rejected nan PGA Tour’s arguable offer. Hideki Matsuyama and Wyndham Clark, who reportedly passed connected financially advantageous LIV deals, said Koepka’s move near them conflicted.
Matsuyama told Golf Digest Japan he was "shocked" by Koepka’s return, adding that he respected nan determination but was discouraged by what he saw arsenic a deficiency of connection from nan tour.
Watson joined nan PGA Tour successful 1971, winning 8 awesome during his storied career.
Tom Watson smiles arsenic he walks past nan Claret Jug connected nan first tee during nan Celebration of Champions Challenge during believe for The 150th Open Championship connected The Old Course astatine St Andrews connected July 11, 2022 successful St. Andrews, Scotland. (Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
He besides suggested that LIV defections created a basal breach of nan sport’s halfway principles.
"When nan players left, they violated nan No. 1 norm that we really had retired here, which is to protect nan sponsors," he said. "Sponsors request players. They request nan names to beryllium capable to beforehand their tournaments. If nan players play wherever they want to play without a conflicting-event norm -- wherever you had to activity nan support of nan PGA Tour to play successful a tournament other of a PGA Tour tourney -- nan sponsors would beryllium wounded by that. I deliberation we each understood that.
"When nan players near for LIV, I deliberation it was fundamentally over. They chose to spell for nan money, which is fine. But to return to nan tour, I thought, was a nonstarter. But apparently it's not."
Watson past played competitively astatine nan 2019 Senior Open Championship and continues arsenic an honorary starter to unfastened nan Masters for a 5th consecutive year.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports sum connected X, and subscribe to nan Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Chantz Martin is simply a sports writer for Fox News Digital.
