Today in Golf
Featured today
Popular stories on GOLF.AI
GOLF.AI • Today
The Locker Room Verdict on Koepka
While the executive-level decisions have been made, the real test for Brooks Koepka’s return will be his reception in the PGA Tour locker room. Beyond the official memos, complex and unfiltered reactions from his peers reveal deep divisions that still exist. Veteran Brian Harman offers a nuanced take, admitting players' "first instinct is to be upset." However, he crucially notes, "the punishment is real. It's not a free pass." For Harman, the core issue for many members will be the lack of a formal suspension. He believes the absence of "time served" will be the "hardest hurdle for PGA Tour players to get over." Representing another faction, professional Laurie Canter criticizes the Tour's entire suspension policy, calling it "illogical" and "not particularly fair." Canter argues that the rule prevents struggling pros from securing their financial future by exploring options like LIV Golf, a powerful counterpoint to the Tour's narrative of loyalty. Koepka himself seems acutely aware of the social friction ahead. He has acknowledged that he has "a lot of work to do with some of the players" and anticipates that some guys will "definitely be angry." This sets the stage for personal drama that will unfold as he returns to competition at Torrey Pines and TPC Scottsdale. This internal political challenge is a significant hurdle for new CEO Brian Rolapp. While reintegrating stars is a win for TV ratings and business, it risks alienating the loyal members who form the Tour's backbone, potentially creating a new crisis defined by human and social friction.
GOLF.AI • Jan 13, 2026
The Kingmaker: DeChambeau's Power Play
While Brooks Koepka’s blockbuster return to the PGA Tour has dominated headlines, the real kingmaker to emerge from the Tour's new policy is Bryson DeChambeau. With a golden ticket back to the PGA Tour in his pocket and his LIV Golf contract reportedly up for negotiation, DeChambeau is the living embodiment of Phil Mickelson's famed strategy: creating a "once-in-a-lifetime leverage opportunity." DeChambeau's value to the Saudi-backed league cannot be overstated. Following Koepka’s departure, he is unequivocally LIV’s "biggest needle-mover." His massive social media following and appeal to a younger demographic make him the one player the league simply cannot afford to lose. His unique brand of entertainment and raw power is central to LIV's identity and future growth prospects. Now, DeChambeau holds all the cards. He can force LIV’s hand for an unprecedented contract extension, potentially becoming the highest-paid golfer in history. Alternatively, he can make a dramatic return to the PGA Tour, a move that would severely cripple his former league and validate the Tour's entire strategy. His decision before the February 2nd deadline isn't just personal; it's a monumental business move, the single most important domino yet to fall in the tour wars, with the power to define the financial landscape of professional golf for years to come.
GOLF.AI • Jan 13, 2026
LIV Golf's Defiant Counter-Attack
While the PGA Tour dictates the terms of reconciliation with its highly exclusive "Returning Member Program," LIV Golf has fired back with a powerful public relations counter-narrative. In a defiant statement released in the wake of Brooks Koepka's departure, LIV has positioned itself not as a league in retreat, but as the champion of an entirely different philosophy for professional golf. Drawing a sharp contrast with the PGA Tour's punitive new policy, LIV's statement champions an "open ecosystem and freedom for all." It frames its vision as one that empowers players "beyond any single institution or interest" and is for everyone, "Not just for a limited few." These phrases are direct shots at the PGA Tour's established control and its selective, walled-garden approach to player reinstatement. This isn't just rhetoric; it's a strategic offensive. The statement's bold, almost political sign-off, "Long LIV Golf," serves as a rallying cry, signaling the league's intent to endure and fight. This defiant posture is backed by forward-looking actions. The public relations move coincides with a teaser for a "NEW ERA" in South Africa and reports of the active pursuit of PGA Tour player Byeong Hun An for a new Korean team, demonstrating that LIV is still aggressively expanding and recruiting. This counter-narrative is a crucial piece of the bigger story. While the PGA Tour is making power plays to reclaim its stars, LIV Golf is doubling down on its core identity and waging an ideological battle. The ongoing "tour wars" are not merely about player contracts, but a fundamental conflict over the future structure and control of professional golf.
GOLF.AI • Jan 13, 2026
Golf's New Caste System
While the PGA Tour's new "Returning Member Program" has been framed as a pathway back for LIV Golf defectors, its true nature appears to be far more strategic and punitive. By offering a route home for only four specific stars, the Tour has effectively created a new caste system, drawing a clear line between an accepted 'A-list' and a permanently exiled 'B-list' of polarizing figures. The eligibility criteria for the program are surgically precise: only players who have won a major championship or The Players Championship between 2022 and 2025 can apply. This narrowly defined window conveniently includes recent major winners Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Cameron Smith, and the program's first returnee, Brooks Koepka. It is a pathway designed for a select few. More telling is who the policy excludes. Past major champions whose victories fall outside that specific timeframe—such as Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, and Sergio Garcia—are left with no easy way back. This move is widely seen as the PGA Tour settling old scores with the players who were most instrumental and vocal in the initial exodus to the rival league. In a memo to players, new PGA TOUR CEO Brian Rolapp stated, "Only those who have recently achieved the highest accomplishments in the game are eligible to return to the PGA Tour." This statement stands in stark contrast to the career achievements of someone like Dustin Johnson, a former world No. 1 and two-time major winner who is now conspicuously left out in the cold. The long-term implications are brutal and clear. For this 'B-list', the future is to be the permanent faces of LIV Golf, as the PGA Tour has made it a "one-time, defined window" with "no promise that this path will be available again." The ultimatum effectively ensures that those not on the approved list are now permanently exiled from the establishment tour, not on their own terms, but on the PGA Tour's.
GOLF.AI • Jan 13, 2026
Golf's February 2nd Ultimatum
The biggest story in golf isn't just that Brooks Koepka is back; it's the strategic checkmate the PGA Tour has just put on LIV Golf's other cornerstones. The newly created "Returning Member Program" is less of a welcoming party and more of a cleverly disguised ultimatum aimed squarely at Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cameron Smith. With a hard deadline of February 2nd—just two days before the 2026 LIV season begins—the PGA Tour has initiated a high-stakes game of chicken. This date was chosen to maximize pressure, forcing a career-defining decision before their LIV commitments solidify. The move was underscored by an ominous memo from CEO Brian Rolapp, stating, "Once the door closes, there is no promise that this path will be available again." This isn't an invitation; it's a threat. The policy was surgically designed. It includes the three aforementioned stars while deliberately excluding polarizing figures like Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, and Patrick Reed, effectively creating an A-list and B-list of defectors. This story is as much about who is being snubbed as who is being courted. Among the targets, DeChambeau holds a unique position of power. With his LIV contract reportedly up for negotiation, he can use the PGA Tour's offer as what analysts call a "once-in-a-lifetime leverage opportunity." He can either secure an unprecedented deal from LIV or make a dramatic return to the PGA Tour. The decisions made by these three players before the deadline will either cripple LIV's top-end talent and validate the Tour's power move, or force the PGA Tour to completely re-evaluate its strategy.
GOLF.AI • Jan 13, 2026
LIV's Next Frontier: South Africa
LIV Golf has ignited fresh speculation about its global ambitions with a cryptic social media teaser announcing a 'NEW ERA' in South Africa, set to be unveiled on January 13, 2026. The promotional video, rich with symbolism, featured a hand-drawn map of the nation, its national Protea flower, and the tantalizing message 'LOADING...'. This move has observers decoding what this 'new era' could entail. The most likely possibilities include the announcement of a new tournament on the African continent or the launch of a South African-branded team, mirroring the league's recent strategic pivot. This teaser follows the rebranding of a team to 'Korean Golf Club' and strong reports of targeting Byeong Hun An, signaling a wider strategy to build regionally-focused franchises to cultivate international fanbases. The timing is significant. As the golf world processes the narrative of LIV losing a star like Brooks Koepka to the PGA Tour, this forward-looking announcement shows the league is playing both offense and defense. It leverages its existing South African connection through the popular all-South African Stinger GC team, captained by Louis Oosthuizen and featuring players like Branden Grace. By planting a flag in South Africa, LIV Golf is not just expanding its footprint; it's reinforcing its global identity and demonstrating resilience and a long-term vision that extends beyond individual player contracts.
Today in Golf Podcast
GOLF.AI • Jan 13, 2026
LIV's Counter-Attack: Byeong Hun An
Just as the narrative began to suggest a one-way street of players returning to the PGA Tour, a new report indicates the talent war is still very much a two-way conflict. PGA Tour veteran Byeong Hun An is reportedly a major target for a new Korean-based LIV franchise, a move that would represent a crucial counter-narrative to the PGA Tour's recent momentum. Speculation, which had previously died down, was reignited after An was spotted at LIV's preview week in South Florida on January 12. This appearance comes after earlier reports that both An and fellow countryman Si Woo Kim had rejected a massive 8-figure deal, suggesting LIV Golf may have increased its offer or that An's interest has grown. Unlike many Tour loyalists who vocally opposed the rival league, An has never officially rejected LIV. In a notable social media post in June 2023, he referred to the PGA Tour-LIV merger framework as a "win-win" for both tours, indicating an open-mindedness to LIV's place in the golf ecosystem. His potential recruitment is strategically tied to the creation of a new Korean-based franchise, Becko East GC, showcasing LIV's focus on building regionally-focused teams. This story is a vital reminder that the "tour wars" are not over. It directly counters the momentum the PGA Tour gained from Brooks Koepka's return and demonstrates that LIV Golf remains a powerful and attractive option for established players, capable of shaping the future of the sport's talent distribution.
GOLF.AI • Jan 13, 2026
Koepka's Anxious Apology Tour
Brooks Koepka’s return to the PGA Tour is not a triumphant victory lap; it's a penance tour. While the financial penalties are steep, the true cost of his readmission is personal. He is re-entering a locker room he helped fracture, and his walk back is defined by a nervous, calculated effort to mend the fences he broke. For a player known for his on-course swagger and stoic demeanor, Koepka is showing a rare vulnerability. He is openly admitting his anxiety about facing his peers, a stark contrast to the unflappable major champion image he has cultivated. "Am I nervous? Yes. Am I excited? Yes," Koepka confessed. "In a weird way, I want to have those conversations." The decision to leave LIV Golf was driven by a deeply personal need that transcends money. After his wife suffered a miscarriage, the five-time major winner felt an overwhelming need to be home. "I needed to be there with my family over the last few months," he explained. "I needed to be closer to home." This human element reframes his return from a business transaction to a personal quest. Koepka’s approach to reconciliation is a deliberate strategy. Instead of grand media gestures, he plans to have private, one-on-one conversations with players who felt wronged by his departure. "I've got a lot of work to do with some of the players," he acknowledged, adding, "If anyone is upset, I need to rebuild those relationships." This is a calculated apology tour, conducted behind closed doors, one handshake at a time. By humanizing the biggest business story in golf, Koepka's journey shifts the focus from boardroom tactics to the real-world social dynamics of the PGA Tour. His return at the Farmers Insurance Open and the notoriously rowdy WM Phoenix Open will be the central, player-focused drama to watch, as he navigates the complex social and professional challenges that await him both on and off the course.
GOLF.AI • Jan 12, 2026
The Koepka Compromise: An Ultimatum
Brooks Koepka's return to the PGA Tour is no longer speculation—it's official. But his path back is paved with severe penalties and serves as a high-stakes ultimatum to three other LIV Golf superstars: Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cameron Smith. The PGA Tour has established a highly exclusive, one-time “Returning Member Program,” a strategic masterstroke that gets a star back while putting immense pressure on its remaining high-profile rivals. The central drama is a February 2 deadline, an ultimatum that forces Rahm, DeChambeau, and Smith to make a career-defining choice. The fine print reveals this isn't a welcome party, but a parole hearing with a hefty price. Koepka reportedly accepted a $5 million charity donation, a five-year ban from the Tour’s new equity grants, and forgoing any 2026 FedEx Cup bonuses. The total forfeiture is estimated to be over $50 million in potential earnings. PGA Tour Enterprises CEO Brian Rolapp's memo to players framed the move as an ultimatum, not an olive branch. He called it a "one-time, defined window and is not a precedent for future situations," adding ominously, "Once the door closes, there is no promise that this path will be available again." The program's eligibility criteria—winning a major or The Players Championship between 2022-2025—is the key. It was specifically designed to include these four players while explicitly excluding other LIV stars like Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, and Patrick Reed, creating a clear A-list of defectors. This is the first concrete step in golf’s reconciliation, and it re-establishes the PGA Tour's authority by defining the steep price of admission back to the establishment.
GOLF.AI • Jan 12, 2026
Anthony Kim's Defiant Comeback
Anthony Kim’s comeback story has taken a sharp, confrontational turn. Initially framed as a journey of survival and redemption, the narrative shifted dramatically after he successfully qualified for the 2026 LIV Golf season. Just a day after reflectively stating, "I'm not here to prove everybody wrong, I'm here to prove myself right," a new, defiant persona emerged. Following his qualification, Kim took to social media and press conferences with a fiery message for his critics. "To all the people that don't feel I belong, they can suck it now," he declared, later adding a direct "SUCK IT" to "haters" and "keyboard warriors" on X. This isn't just talk; it's a calculated heel turn from a player who feels he's earned the right to be boastful. "I love hearing all the negativity," Kim admitted. "But I'm glad I get to throw this in their face." His satisfaction is amplified by the struggle he endured—facing relegation, needing a clutch birdie just to make the weekend cut, and fighting his way back onto the tour. The emotional weight of his journey is staggering. This is a man who, just three years ago, was told by doctors he had "two weeks to live." From that grim prognosis to re-earning his spot on a professional tour, Kim has transformed a sympathetic comeback into a polarizing anti-hero saga, making him one of the most compelling figures in golf.
GOLF.AI • Jan 12, 2026
Golf's Squeezed Middle
Beyond the nine-figure contracts and major championship glory lies the brutal, precarious reality for professional golf's middle class. In an era where the top of the sport has never been richer, the path for journeymen to simply survive is narrowing, creating immense pressure across all tours. The high-stakes drama of the recent LIV Golf Promotions event served as a perfect microcosm of this struggle. For Danish pro Lucas Bjerregaard, a two-time winner on the DP World Tour, the stakes couldn't have been higher. "Where I am in my career right now, it's probably that or retirement," he said of qualifying, a single quote that encapsulates the career-defining pressure cooker these players face. This anxiety is not confined to one tour. On the PGA Tour, veteran Joel Dahmen voiced parallel fears about the circuit's new star-focused model. Dahmen worries that smaller fields and a greater focus on elite players are squeezing out the consistent, but not superstar, performers who form the tour's backbone. "The level of play is so incredibly high now," Dahmen noted, highlighting how razor-thin the margins for success have become. While Bjerregaard ultimately missed out on a LIV card, the changing global golf ecosystem has created new lifelines. He, along with nine others like Australian veteran Matt Jones, earned full status on the Asian Tour's International Series. This 'consolation prize' offers a viable competitive path that didn't exist just a few years ago, providing a crucial opportunity for players fighting to keep their careers alive in a sport increasingly defined by its extremes.
