'Golf Emperor' Woods Welcomes Return of LIV Golf Member Koepka

Appointed as Chairman of the Future Competition Committee in August Last Year
Significance for the PGA Tour
"Fans Want to See the Best Players Compete"

'Golf Emperor' Tiger Woods welcomed Brooks Koepka's return to the PGA Tour.

On January 13 (local time), ahead of the start of the TGL screen golf tournament held in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, Woods commented on Koepka's return, saying, "It is significant for the PGA Tour," and added, "Fans wanted to see the best players compete against each other."

Tiger Woods welcomed Brooks Koepka's return to the PGA Tour. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

Woods was appointed as the Chairman of the PGA Tour's Future Competition Committee in August last year. He explained, "Koepka also wanted to return to the PGA Tour a year earlier than the end of his contract with LIV," and added, "We worked on this matter from Christmas through the beginning of this year."

On January 13, the PGA Tour announced its Reinstatement Program for returning members. This new system approved Koepka's return to the PGA Tour after his departure to LIV Golf. Woods, as the Chairman of the Future Competition Committee, also played a certain role in this process. In addition to Koepka, the PGA Tour stated that Bryson DeChambeau (United States), Jon Rahm (Spain), and Cameron Smith (Australia) are also eligible for the Reinstatement Program and effectively encouraged their return, but these players expressed their intention to remain with LIV.