Brooks Koepka Is Leaving LIV Golf
In what feels like the latest season finale of professional golf’s never-ending drama series, Brooks Koepka has officially called it quits with LIV Golf. The five-time major champion, who was arguably the face of the breakaway league’s aggressive recruitment drive back in 2022, is packing his bags after the 2025 season.
If you were expecting a scorched-earth exit interview, you might be disappointed. By all accounts, this breakup is clean. But as with anything involving Koepka, the surface-level announcement hides plenty of layers worth peeling back.
Family First For Koepka
The official reason for the departure hits on a very human note. According to statements from his camp and LIV Golf, Koepka is stepping away to prioritize his family. It is a reminder that behind the sunglasses and the stone-faced demeanor inside the ropes, life happens.
It has been an undeniably rough year for the Koepka household. His wife, Jena, shared the heartbreaking news of a miscarriage earlier this year. When you combine personal tragedy with the grueling, globetrotting schedule demanded by a world tour, the decision to stay closer to home isn’t just understandable—it’s necessary.
The statement called the split “amiable,” noting he leaves with the league’s blessing. It is a far cry from the lawsuits and vitriol that defined the last few years of golf politics.
A Rough Patch On the Course
Let’s be honest, though—the golf wasn’t exactly doing the talking for him lately. The 2025 season was a grind for Koepka. For a guy who usually treats major championships like his own personal ATM, missing the cut in three of the four big ones is startling.
He went winless on LIV this year, finishing a distant 31st in the individual standings. For a competitor as alpha as Koepka, being a middle-of-the-pack player likely stung worse than any media criticism. He’s handing the keys to his team, Smash GC, over to Talor Gooch, leaving a massive void in the league’s star power but perhaps giving himself the reset button he desperately needs.
The PGA Tour Elephant In the Room
Now for the question everyone is screaming at their screens: Is Koepka heading back to the PGA Tour?
It’s complicated. You can’t just swipe your old badge and walk back into the clubhouse. The PGA Tour has strict rules about unauthorized events, generally requiring a one-year cooling-off period. Plus, Koepka would technically need to reapply for membership.
The Tour’s response to the news was classic corporate shade, wishing Koepka well while subtly flexing that they offer the “most competitive, challenging and lucrative environment.” Koepka doesn’t necessarily need the Tour immediately to stay relevant, though. Thanks to his 2023 PGA Championship win, which he pulled off while playing for LIV, he has exemptions into the majors through 2028.
Whether 2026 is a gap year or the start of a comeback tour, one thing is certain: the golf world is infinitely more interesting when Koepka is making moves.
