Big things are happening in the golf world, and Brooks Koepka is right in the thick of it. LIV Golf and the PGA Tour are reportedly inching closer to finalizing a merger that could see LIV players returning to PGA Tour events as early as next month—possibly even at The Players. And with Koepka’s contract with LIV set to expire at the end of the year, rumors are swirling: Could we see the five-time major winner make a dramatic return to the PGA Tour?

Well, if his recent TGL appearance is any hint, something interesting might be brewing. Koepka was spotted at the SoFi Center, casually hanging out with Max Homa and Tom Kim—two key players on Tiger Woods’s TGL team, Jupiter Links. Now, why is this significant? For starters, Koepka wasn’t just there as a spectator; his presence among PGA Tour loyalists has fans speculating whether he’s testing the waters for a possible comeback.

This isn’t the first time Koepka’s name has been tied to a possible PGA Tour return. In 2023, Alan Shipnuck noted that Koepka had “buyer’s remorse” over the move to LIV Golf. “I’m hearing a lot of rumblings that Brooks Koepka has buyer’s remorse. The guy has one of the biggest egos in golf, and as the PGA Tour creates ever-increasing buzz with its elevated events and even the state-sanctioned TGL, Koepka has to feel like he’s on the outside looking in,” Shipnuck wrote for The Fire Pit Collective

Koepka himself has admitted that he judges his success by performance in majors. “The majors were terrible. I put a lot of emphasis on those, and just cutting those wasn’t—that’s how I judge my year,”  he said during LIV Golf Chicago last year. That sentiment alone suggests that if the opportunity arose for LIV players to participate freely in PGA Tour events, Koepka might be tempted to reconsider his current path. But here is a catch; he might stay with LIV

He has publicly stated that he has no regrets about joining LIV. “I’m fine, I’m satisfied, I’m content with every decision I’ve made. I knew everything I was getting into,” Koepka said in an interview. And let’s be honest—Koepka has thrived in LIV’s format. The team aspect, the financial security, and the more relaxed schedule have suited him well. He’s won events, competed at a high level, and doesn’t seem to carry the same frustration some other LIV players have shown about being excluded from the PGA Tour. If LIV continues to offer a competitive platform with access to majors, Koepka might see no urgent reason to jump ship.

Recently while praising LIV Adelaide, Koepka profoundly said, “This is the one event every year that we look forward to coming back,” he said before summing it up in eight words: “We’ve got the most fans, the most energy.” And he didn’t stop there. “That’s what LIV Golf is about. Make it fun for the players, make it fun for the fans and families that come out, and I think this event just proves exactly what we’ve been trying to do year after year. This is the pinnacle of our events, and hopefully in the future this is the bar that we set.” This does not sound like someone who is planning to exit.

Koepka’s message seems clear as of now—he’s loving LIV. But does that mean he’s staying for the long haul?

Can a LIV Player even return to the PGA Tour?

This is the million-dollar question. As it stands, any LIV golfer who wants to return to the PGA Tour must apply for reinstatement, and there’s no guarantee it would be granted. However, with a merger seemingly on the horizon, the pathway back could be much smoother than expected. Tiger Woods himself has been vocal about unifying the game, recently stating, “I think things are going to heal quickly. We’re going to get this game going in the right direction. The fans want all the top players playing together, and we’re going to make that happen.”

If the PGA Tour and LIV Golf reach an agreement, it could open the door for players like Koepka to compete in both circuits—something that seemed impossible just a year ago. That means he wouldn’t necessarily have to choose one over the other; he could get the best of both worlds.