Brooks Koepka: LIV Golf question will be easier to answer later this year

Brooks Koepka says he is yet to encounter another member who has an issue with his return to the PGA Tour. 

Koepka controversially quit the American circuit in June 2022 to join the PIF-backed LIV Golf.

He quit the breakaway tour in December and was permitted to return under a one-time returning member programme for elite players.  

At the time, Koepka acknowledged his comeback was likely to divide opinion among other golfers who rejected LIV's advances. 

Koepka acknowledged he was nervous about how he was going to received ahead of his first start at the Farmers Insurance Open. 

He told the Associated Press that he had "a lot of work to do" with some of his peers and vowed to rebuild those relationships. 

"There's definitely guy who are happy, and definitely guys who will be angry," Koepka previously said. 

Speaking to reporters ahead of the WM Phoenix Open, Koepka said his return so far has felt "comfortable". 

And there haven't been any hostile encounters yet. 

"I haven't had any difficult ones," he said. 

"Maybe ones that, I guess, [people are] just [saying] happy to see you back, we're glad you're back, type things.

"But then again, I haven't seen [many players]. There's a lot of guys, I mean, I'm only, what, nine days into this. There's still a lot of guys I haven't seen.

"So that will be easier to answer probably midway through the year."

Koepka isn't the only major champion to quit LIV Golf. 

Patrick Reed announced after winning the Dubai Desert Classic that he wasn't going to extend his contract with LIV. 

Former Masters champion Reed, 35, was not eligible for the returning member programme so will have to wait until August to play on the PGA Tour again. 

Reed will play the 2026/2027 PGA Tour season out of the past champion category. 

He has the opportunity to improve his status if he finishes inside the top-10 of the Race to Dubai rankings this year. 

"Everybody is their own man," Koepka said when asked about Reed's decision to also leave LIV. 

"Everybody is a little bit different. Everybody has their priorities. I don't know what his priorities are. 

"As long as he's doing what's best for him and doing what's best for his family, I'm all for whatever he needs to do."

He added: "I'm just focused on myself. I'm focused on how I can go play the best golf over the next four days. I'm not focused on anybody else.

"I think... it's a very boring answer but it's true. I can only do what I can do. 

"If I do that the best, I mean, I think Scottie is a perfect example of that right now."