Tiger Woods was amongst these excited to see Brooks Koepka return to the PGA Tour.
A day after Koepka’s return by way of the brand new returning membership program was introduced, Woods referred to as it “unbelievable” for the PGA Tour and mentioned he was comfortable to have the five-time main champion again this season.
“It is unbelievable for all of the followers,” Woods instructed ESPN on Tuesday evening earlier than his staff, the Jupiter Lynx, performed New York vs. TGL. “The fan initiative program we did final 12 months, what they needed was to see the very best gamers and the very best play. And Brooks needed to return again a 12 months early, and he was in a position to try this.”
Koepka introduced his retirement from LIV Golf final month. And on Monday, the PGA Tour introduced it will enable returns beneath a one-time returning member program that applies solely to gamers who’ve received a serious or Gamers Championship since 2022 (Koepka received the 2023 PGA Championship). Gamers have till February 2nd to decide on to take action, and in the event that they do, they are going to be topic to stiff fines beneath sure situations.
Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith are additionally eligible to return to the PGA Tour by way of this system, however all three introduced Tuesday they are going to stay on LIV.
In the meantime, Koepka is scheduled to return on the Farmers Insurance coverage Open later this month. He’s additionally scheduled to play within the WM Phoenix Open subsequent week at TPC Scottsdale.
Woods, who’s chairman of the PGA Tour’s Future Competitors Committee and a member of the PGA Tour Coverage Committee, acknowledged that work on the Return to Tour program happened over the vacations and early within the new 12 months, resulting in Monday’s announcement.
“There are punitive damages, nevertheless it’s a meritocracy. That is what makes our recreation nice,” he mentioned. “(Koepka) goes to play in full-field occasions, and he has the power to play in marquee occasions. If he is good, he is good. If he performs nice, he performs nice. If he wins tournaments, he wins tournaments. There is not any purpose for us to carry him again.”
As for Woods’ personal return to aggressive play, much less is evident.
The newly turned 50-year-old underwent what seems to be his seventh decrease again surgical procedure on October 10 to exchange a disc in his decrease again that was inflicting ache and mobility points. He mentioned Tuesday evening that he’s now solely allowed to hit brief and center irons.
“Everytime you begin hitting driver, begin enjoying at residence, begin doing various things, you are out of the sport for a 12 months and a half, so I am fairly rusty,” mentioned Woods, who final performed in a PGA Tour occasion on the British Open Championship in July 2024. And it should take lots of issues, so my preparation goes to should be slightly totally different than the opposite procedures I’ve had. I feel it is as a result of I am 50, it hurts quicker.
For now, Woods mentioned he will likely be rooting for the Jupiter Lynx staff, which went 1-4 and received in 2025, the TGL’s debut season.
“I don’t assume I may have performed this dangerous,” he mentioned. “There’s just one method to go. It is over. We had been the Dangerous Information Bears, however we do not need to be the Dangerous Information Bears 2.”
The Jupiter Lynx misplaced Tuesday’s recreation 8-3.
