Tiger Woods reacts to Brooks Koepka’s return to the PGA Tour

Tiger Woods has thrown his full support behind Brooks Koepka’s stunning return to the PGA Tour, hailing it as a major win for the game and its fans after the five-time major champion walked away from LIV Golf earlier than expected.

Speaking to ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt ahead of Jupiter Links GC’s latest TGL match, Woods didn’t hesitate when asked about Koepka’s reinstatement. In fact, the 15-time major champion made it clear just how important the move is for the future of the PGA Tour.

“I think it’s incredible for the Tour,” Woods said. “It’s incredible for the fans who want to see the best against the best.”

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Koepka’s comeback has been one of the most eye-catching twists in golf’s ongoing civil war. 

Just days before Christmas, the 35-year-old sensationally quit LIV Golf, ending his reported $100m multi-year deal a year early. 

Within weeks, he applied to rejoin the PGA Tour — and under a newly created Returning Membership policy devised by PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp, he was swiftly approved. 

That policy, shaped in no small part by Woods himself, allows major champions and Players Championship winners from 2022 a pathway back to the PGA Tour. 

Woods is Chairman of the PGA Tour’s Future Competition Committee and a Player Director on both the Policy and Enterprises Boards, giving him significant influence over the framework that brought Koepka home.

“We worked through Christmas and into the early part of the year,” Woods revealed. 

“Both boards, player directors, other players — we wanted to make sure this was right.”

There are consequences. Koepka will not be eligible for player equity funds until 2030, will miss out on FedEx Cup bonus money in 2026, and must make a $5m charitable donation. But crucially, Woods was adamant that performance — not politics — should dictate Koepka’s future on the PGA Tour.

“There’s some punitive damages there, but it’s a meritocracy,” Woods continued. 

“That’s what makes our game so great. He’s going to be playing full-field events and earn his way into the signature events. If he’s good, he’s good. There’s no reason to hold him back.”

Woods' warm welcome for Koepka returning to the PGA Tour comes several weeks after Rory McIlroy echoed similar comments during an appearance onThe Overlap.

Scroll down for Woods' comments in full about Koepka's return to the PGA Tour...

For Koepka, his move away from LIV is about far more than golf. 

With a desire to spend more time with his family, the league's increasingly global schedule proved a huge factor.

Life closer to home with wife Jena and their young son Crew is a major priority for him, particularly following the traumatic miscarriage Jena experienced last year, which she has since spoken about publicly.

Now, Koepka is back where he has enjoyed some of his greatest success — a PGA Tour he has won on nine times, including five majors and two victories at the WM Phoenix Open.

The American's return also carries wider implications. Under the new policy, only Koepka, Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Cameron Smith are eligible to apply. 

Koepka is the only one to do so though. 

Rahm, DeChambeau and Smith have all rejected the PGA Tour's offer and remain committed to LIV Golf ahead of the PGA Tour’s 2 February deadline.

While DeChambeau told reporters his focus is on LIV Golf for 2026, albeit rather downbeat, he did also post a cryptic Instagram post within minutes asking his followers what his next move should be within the pro game. 

Koepka will now make his PGA Tour return at the Farmers Insurance Open in two weeks’ time, before heading to TPC Scottsdale for the WM Phoenix Open — a familiar and successful stop for him having won in 2015 and 2021. 

With Woods publicly backing his return, one message is clear: Koepka isn’t just back — he’s fully welcome by the GOAT.