The PGA Tour got it right.

Welcome back, Brooks Koepka. It will be great to see the five-time major champion back on tour.

PGA Tour Enterprises CEO Brian Rolapp said Monday that Koepka was reinstated to the tour after leaving a couple of years ago to play on the LIV Golf tour. Koepka left LIV five weeks ago when his contract ran out.

Koepka will deal with penalties when returning to the PGA Tour, which he is slated to do at the Farmers Insurance Open at the end of January at Torrey Pines. He will not be eligible for PGA Tour equity grants for five years, will not receive FedEx Cup bonus money in 2026, and he cannot play signature events unless he earns his way in. The out-of-pocket cost is a $5 million charity donation to be decided jointly with the tour. 

All that, and Koepka accepted the invitation to be back on tour.

“I’ve got a lot of work to do with some of the players,” he said. “There’s definitely guys who are happy, and definitely guys who will be angry. It’s a harsh punishment financially. I understand exactly why the tour did that — it’s meant to hurt. But it (his departure) hurt a lot of people.”

With Koepka coming back, the PGA Tour shows it is not the same organization that it has been in years past. Rolapp, who has an NFL background, is now running the ship. He doesn’t have the LIV scars of the previous CEO, Jay Monahan.

And it showed in one of Rolapp’s first big decisions. He could have suspended Koepka for a year or been even harsher with the financial penalties. But he wants what’s good for the tour and Koepka playing is the right move.

Rolapp, who has been on the job for five months, created the Returning Members Program to help get Koepka back. This invitation was also extended to Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Cameron Smith. All three players have since declined and will stay with LIV.

“Ultimately, by accepting membership in the Returning Member category, Brooks is making the decision to return to the PGA Tour now — something our fans want, and something that strengthens both the game and our organization,” Rolapp said.

“This is a one-time, defined window and is not a precedent for future situations. Once the door closes, there is no promise that this path will be available again.”

The PGA Tour is better entertainment with Koepka on it. He has five major championships, including the 2023 PGA Championship, while playing for LIV. He never showed ill will toward the PGA Tour as other players have. He went to LIV for the money and he had questions surrounding his game and knee injuries.

He was never unhappy with the PGA Tour. There were no nasty social media posts like those from Phil Mickelson and no lawsuits filed like those from Patrick Reed. Koepka did it for stability at that time.

The reception he receives from players and fans is yet to be seen. He has some friends on tour, and a lot of fans just want to see good golf. There are still a lot of golf fans and golfers that don’t like that these guys left for LIV.

“I’m in a tough spot because I’m friends with Brooks. A lot of guys are friends with Brooks out here. A couple of years ago, there was a lot more hostility between the two tours,” Gary Woodland told reporters. “That’s gone down. I’m happy for Brooks. I’m happy for the tour that we’re finally getting to the point of moving past all this crap and getting back to golf.”

Tiger Woods, who is part of the PGA Tour board, was a player in the decision to bring Koepka back. Woods said the day after Koepka left LIV, he wrote a letter to the PGA Tour requesting Koepka’s return. The 15-time major champion addressed Koepka’s return before a TGL indoor match Tuesday.

“We get a probably top-three-of-his-generation player back that went to another tour,” Woods said, “played over there, and was adamant about coming back here and got out early to come back.

“That says a lot about the PGA Tour, where we’re headed, what we have done, what we accomplished and the players who have stayed and who have supported the tour. Having another world-class player that these guys are going to try and beat, that’s what the fans demanded. That’s what the fans wanted for our fan initiative program, and I think we’ve addressed that.”

Rahm, DeChambeau and Smith still have time to start the process of coming back but right now seem focused on LIV. Even if none of them accept it, the PGA Tour is better today than it was a year ago.

Momentum is in favor of the PGA Tour with Koepka back, the game being as popular as ever, with rumors of a new schedule in 2027.

Let’s hope they take advantage of it.

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He said it

“Yeah, I’m not planning on going anywhere, so very similar answer to what Bryson gave. I wish Brooks the best, and as far as I’m concerned, I’m focused on LIV for this year and hoping my team can repeat as champs.”

—Rahm on his commitment to LIV Golf after Koepka went back to PGA Tour

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Skins game

Odds to win Sony Open

Russell Henley +1100

Hideki Matsuyama +1700

J.J. Spaun +1700

Collin Morikawa +1900

Ben Griffin +1900

Si Woo Kim +2000

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This week in golf

PGA TOUR

Sony Open

Site: Honolulu.

Course: Waialae CC. Yardage: 7,044. Par: 70.

Prize money: $9.1 million. Winner’s share: $1.638 million.

Television: Thursday-Sunday, 5-8 p.m. (Golf Channel).

Defending champion: Nick Taylor.

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European Tour

Dubai Invitational

Site: Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Course: Dubai Creek Resort. Yardage: 7,059. Par: 71.

Purse: $2.75 million. Winner’s share: $458,333.

Television: Thursday-Sunday, 12:30-5:30 a.m. (Golf Channel).

Defending champion: Tommy Fleetwood (2024).

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Korn Ferry Tour

The Bahamas Golf Classic

Site: Paradise Island, Bahamas.

Course: Ocean Club GC at Atlantis. Yardage: 7,159. Par: 72.

Prize money: $1 million. Winner’s share: $180,000.

Television: Wednesday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. (Golf Channel).

Previous winner: Hank Lebioda.

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World Golf Ranking

1. Scottie Scheffler 15.99

2. Rory McIlroy 8.94

3. Tommy Fleetwood 5.49

4. Xander Schauffele 4.86

5. Russell Henley 4.72

6. J.J. Spaun 4.63

7. Robert MacIntyre 4.48

8. Ben Griffin 4.42

9. Justin Thomas 4.32

10. Justin Rose 4.07