Brooks Koepka Exits $100M LIV Golf Deal: First Major Crack in the Saudi-Backed Tour?

He was the major champion who gave LIV Golf its credibility. Now, Brooks Koepka is the first major winner to walk away. LIV Golf announced on Tuesday that the five-time major champion has parted ways with the tour, despite having one year left on his reported $100 million contract. Koepka's departure, a significant blow to the Saudi-backed league he helped legitimize, raises new questions about the future of professional golf's fractured landscape.

An 'Amicable and Mutual' Split

According to a statement from LIV Golf CEO Scott O'Neil, the decision was a joint one. "We have amicably and mutually agreed that Brooks Koepka will no longer compete in the LIV Golf League, following the 2025 season," O'Neil stated, adding that "Brooks is prioritizing the needs of his family and staying closer to home." Koepka’s own third-person statement echoed the sentiment, noting, "Family has always guided Brooks’s decisions, and he feels this is the right moment to spend more time at home."

A Turbulent Tenure of Highs and Lows

Koepka’s time with LIV was a mix of validation and visible frustration. His victory at the 2023 PGA Championship gave the upstart league a massive boost of credibility, proving its players could still compete at the highest level. On the flip side, the 35-year-old occasionally sounded like a player simply marking time. "I’ve got a contract obligation out here to fulfil, and then we’ll see what happens," Koepka said at one LIV event, hinting at an underlying discontent with the tour's less competitive, 54-hole, no-cut format.

What's Next? The PGA Tour Question

While Koepka is eligible for all four majors next year thanks to his 2023 PGA Championship win, a return to the PGA Tour isn't straightforward. Tour rules require LIV exiles to sit out for one year from their last tournament on the rival circuit; Koepka's was on August 24. The PGA Tour could offer an exemption, but its statement remained non-committal. "Brooks Koepka is a highly accomplished professional, and we wish him and his family continued success," the Tour said, offering no hints about his future.