Former U.S. Open champion Windham Clark mentioned Wednesday that he’s “heartbroken” about Brooks Koepka’s return to the PGA Tour, saying he’s joyful to have him again but additionally thinks the five-time main champion may have “obtained slightly extra response” after initially shifting to LIV Golf.
“I personally actually like Brooks and I believe finally it is an excellent factor for the PGA Tour,” Clark mentioned in an interview on SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio. “Nevertheless, as a man who had the chance to go to LIV, I’m slightly disenchanted that I used to be in a position to purchase cake and eat it too.
“And in the event you advised me I may research overseas for a 12 months and a half and make some huge cash and are available again and play on tour, I believe most individuals would have achieved it.”
Koepka reportedly signed a contract with LIV in June 2022 price greater than $100 million. He resigned in December with one 12 months left on his contract.
The PGA Tour has allowed him to return via a brand new reinstatement membership program introduced Monday that features a number of essential situations. A few of it’s monetary: Koepka has agreed to surrender all participant inventory for the subsequent 5 years, turn into ineligible for the $100 million FedEx Cup bonus program in 2026 and donate $5 million to charity, in accordance with the tour.
“This can be a extreme financial penalty,” Koepka advised The Related Press earlier this week. “I perceive precisely why the tour did what it did. It was meant to be hurtful. However it (his departure) harm lots of people.”
Clark, who performed with Koepka on the U.S. Ryder Cup staff in 2023, mentioned the return of a prime participant like Koepka will solely result in a more healthy PGA Tour, which is able to profit him as nicely.
“On the finish of the day, I would like what’s greatest for the PGA Tour. If the gamers come again, particularly prime gamers like Brooks, that is solely going to assist the tour, and that is going to finally assist me,” he advised SiriusXM.
Info from The Related Press was used on this report.
