One of LIV Golf’s biggest names has left the tour. Five-time major winner Brooks Koepka announced on Tuesday that he will no longer play for LIV Golf and will no longer serve as captain of Smash GC, his now former LIV Golf team.
“Brooks Koepka is leaving LIV Golf,” Koepka’s representative said in a statement. “He is deeply grateful to Yasser Rumayan, Scott O’Neal and the leadership team at LIV Golf, his teammates and fans. Brooks’ family has been guiding Brooks’ decision and he believes now is the right time to spend more time at home. Brooks will continue to be a strong supporter of LIV Golf and wishes the league and its players continued success. Brooks remains passionate about the game of golf and will keep fans updated on future developments.”
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Koepka, a two-time U.S. Open and three-time PGA Championship winner, is one of LIV Golf’s most high-profile signings when he joins the breakaway tour in June 2022. A year later, he won the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill, becoming the first LIV player to win a major.
He joins Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson as big-name players leaving the PGA Tour to join LIV. Now, Koepka is the first to jump ship.
“We have amicably mutually agreed that Brooks Koepka will no longer compete in the LIV Golf League after the 2025 season,” LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil said in a statement. “Brooks is prioritizing the needs of his family and staying closer to home. We appreciate the significant impact he has had on the game and wish him continued success on and off the course.”
The statement went on to emphasize LIV Golf’s priority of taking the sport international, which will obviously require more international travel by players, even with LIV’s relatively light schedule. O’Neil further stated that Talor Gooch will take over as LIV’s Smash GC captain.
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As of this week, Koepka is ranked No. 244 in the Official World Golf Ranking, which is a player’s pathway to the majors. However, Koepka has already qualified for all four majors in the coming seasons with his win at the 2023 PGA Championship.
The PGA Tour said the path back from LIV will require players to miss at least a year after playing in unsanctioned events. The LIV finals end on August 25, 2025; a one-year delay would make Koepka ineligible for PGA Tour fall events.
Shortly after Koepka’s team issued a statement, the PGA Tour issued its own statement: “Brooks Koepka is an accomplished professional and we wish him and his family continued success. The PGA Tour continues to provide the most competitive, challenging and lucrative environment for the best professional golfers to pursue greatness.”
