Brooks Koepka, a four-time major winner, is the latest big-name player to leave the PGA Tour and join the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational series.
The former world number one has already withdrawn from this week’s PGA Tour Travelers Championship in Connecticut and will next compete on June 30 at the second LIV series event of the season in Oregon.
He joins the breakaway series after Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, and Phil Mickelson.
“There is no understating the impact Brooks Koepka has had on the game of golf in the last five years,” LIV Golf CEO and commissioner Greg Norman said.
“He has a championship pedigree and a track record of success as one of the world’s top players.”
“The addition of Brooks is yet another example of the incredible fields LIV Golf is assembling as we build momentum in our first season and look towards the future.”
The PGA Tour has announced plans to compete with the LIV series, including prize money increases beginning in 2024 and a lucrative ‘Fall Series.’
He also confirmed the formation of a series of up to three international events for the FedEx Cup’s top 50 players following the conclusion of the fall schedule.
The tournaments, like LIV’s, are expected to rotate around the world and will have no cut.
Before the rumors start flying, I have decided to WD to treat and rest my back which I tweaked earlier this week. Just making sure I get it taken care of and ready for the rest of the PGA season as planned. Hate to be missing one of the best/my favorite events @TravelersChamp! https://t.co/DUzwF1CTk2
— Justin Thomas (@JustinThomas34) June 22, 2022
The Genesis Invitational, Bay Hill Invitational, World Match Play, Memorial, Fed Ex St Jude, and BMW Championship will all have $20 million purses, while the Players Championship will have a purse of up to $25 million.
The regular season will also be moved from September to August, rather than the current September-August format.
In announcing the upcoming changes, PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan admitted that the Tour would “come out stronger because of the loyalty and support of players and fans.”
“I am not gullible. If this is an arms race, and the only weapons are dollar bills, the PGA Tour will be unable to compete with a foreign monarchy that is spending billions of dollars to acquire the game of golf.
“We welcome good healthy competition, the LIV series is not that. It’s an irrational threat, one not concerned with the return on investment or true growth of the game. Currently no one organisation owns or dominates the game of golf, instead the various entities work together to meet our own respective priorities but with the best interests of the game at heart.
“But when someone attempts to buy the sport and dismantle the institutions that are intrinsically invested in growth and focus only on a personal priority, that partnership evaporates. Instead, we end up with one person, one entity, using endless amounts of money to direct employees toward their personal goals, which may or may not change tomorrow or the next day. I doubt that’s the vision any of us have for the game.
