Brooks Koepka: PGA Tour faces huge dilemma over return of five-time major winner

The tour will no doubt recall how Hudson Swafford was dealt with.

The 38-year-old American was among LIV’s first recruits in 2022 but was struck down by injury and upon leaving the breakaway circuit reapplied to the PGA Tour in late 2024.

Swafford, a three-time tour winner who is currently working in real estate, was given one-year bans for each of the five LIV events he played in 2022 that conflicted with regular PGA Tour events. He cannot play on the PGA Tour again until 2027.

He was also part of a legal action taken by LIV colleagues who sought a restraining order that would allow them to play the 2022 PGA Tour play-offs.

Those who sued during that febrile and fractious period generated considerable anger among PGA Tour players, who felt money that belonged to them as members was being channelled into the pockets of lawyers instead.

Ironically, the lucrative arrival of LIV prompted a huge increase in prize money among the old order as well as $1.5bn investment from the Strategic Sports Group and the formation of the for-profit PGA Tour Enterprises.

Successful tour members now have ownership in the new company with 213 PGA Tour players sharing various amounts from $1.3bn in equity grants. It could be argued that Koepka and co have done them all a big financial favour.

“I really don’t think there is any backlash now,” Swafford told Sports Illustrated. “Everyone has moved on. Players play where they want to play and make decisions in their best interest.

“And especially when you see how much money the PGA Tour is playing for now.”

Speaking at a recent indoor TGL event, Billy Horschel concurred. “Selfishly, having an equity stake in the PGA Tour now, bringing Brooks back, that does add value,” said the US star.

“So I think there needs to be a process to figure out what brings these guys back.”