Brooks Koepka returns to PGA Tour: What does new 'loophole' mean for men's professional golf and divide with LIV Golf League?

Former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley reflects on what Brooks Koepka’s return to the PGA Tour means for men’s golf and explains why it’s wrong to write-off LIV Golf’s future, despite them losing one of their star names...

The news about Koepka shouldn't come as a surprise and it shows how much now that professional golf is prioritised as a business - and making money - over the views of the collective as a members' organisation.

The decision was made within the PGA Tour by a small sub-committee, who are representative of the PGA Tour players, along with chief executive Brian Rolapp. They have the right to make decisions on behalf of the collective and to do what they feel is best for the PGA Tour. It's clear they feel that this decision, along with its caveats, is what's best for the business first and, secondly, somewhat fair to the other members who did not go to LIV Golf.

If It was a members' first decision, it would have included everybody who was at LIV, but this has been clearly targeted towards players who move the needle from a business point of view.

Knowing how tours work and how it often feels impossible to get fully agreed, it's likely that this decision has divided opinion among players and fans and I can understand all the various viewpoints about it.

The PGA Tour came up with something that prioritises the high-profile players, because they feel they add value to their business, while also coming down hard on players who may not be high profile, to try and appease the wider membership of the PGA Tour player group.

It also highlights that the future path between PGA Tour and LIV Golf is not one of alignment - it's one of competition against each other. The golf arena is now big business and both tours want the top players to be on their side as important assets - in other words, the needle movers - and Koepka is one of those.