Masters chairman is aware of the Koepka move. And he has a ‘hope'

One of golf's most powerful people made a wish. 

Yes, Fred Ridley was happy that Brooks Koepka was returning to the PGA Tour after leaving it for LIV Golf.

But the Masters and Augusta National chairman also asked that there would be opportunities for more players to come together.

"I think the game of golf is always better if the best players in the world are playing at the same time and the same place," Ridley said. "I think it’s better for the fans. It’s better for the history of the game, the legacy that these players establish.  

"I’m happy that one player, Brooks Koepka, is back on the PGA Tour, and I hope that there will be pathways for more players to all play in the same place."

Ridley appeared Thursday alongside USGA CEO Mike Whan and R&A chairman Martin Hattrell during a press conference for the Latin America Amateur Championship. To the LAAC winner, each speaker's group awards an exemption into the major championship it hosts - the Masters, U.S. Open and Open Championship. Each speaker's majors are also among the few events where PGA Tour and LIV Golf pros co-mingle. 

And each speaker was also enthused to see that Koepka would soon be playing on the PGA Tour again. 

Said Hattrell: "We are pleased to see another great player who will be seen more often in great golf tournaments in the future."

Said Whan: "Likewise, we’ve seen Brooks at the U.S. Open the last few years. Regardless of what tour he came from, he qualified. We had this decision back in 2022. If you remember, the U.S. Open was the week after the first LIV event and there was a question about what we would or want to do and we decided pretty quickly if you qualified for the U.S. Open, we’ll see you at the U.S. Open. 

"I think that’s been a good move for the game and good move from the player’s perspective, and like Martin, if this means the fans get to see the best in the world on a more regular basis, how can that be bad."

Koepka's path to returning to the PGA Tour took just over two weeks. 

After LIV Golf said that the five-time major winner was leaving the league on Dec. 23, the PGA Tour announced on Monday that Koepka was returning next month under the newly created "Returning Member Program." Under that policy, Koepka and three current LIV players - Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith - will be allowed back onto the PGA Tour through their wins in major championships over the past four years, but will have to agree to a series of conditions, including making a $5 million charitable donation and not receiving access to the Tour's equity program for five years nor a bonus program for 2026.  

In making that announcement, the Tour said Koepka had agreed to those terms, while the others face a Feb. 2 deadline to decide. And that might be the only opportunity to return, PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp said, as the Tour suspends players who play in LIV events. 

"This is a one-time, defined window and does not set a precedent for future situations," Rolapp said in a release.

"Once the door closes, there is no promise that this path will be available again." 

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