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Thursday marked a historic day for the PGA Tour, as Brooks Koepka’s return became official.
After spending more than four years with LIV Golf, the five-time major winner announced his return to the Tour earlier this month and teeed off at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines on Thursday.
Koepka cited more time with family as the main factor behind his decision to terminate his contract with the Saudi-backed league early. Ironically, this is one of the main reasons people defected to LIV, but Koepka’s lawyer and advisor Bryan Freedman provided some context in a recent interview with PK Press Club Digital.
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Brooks Koepka reacts after making a birdie on the 17th hole during the second round of the 125th U.S. Open, June 13, 2025, in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
“Brooks felt over the years that the travel was so intense and so international that it took him away from his family, and I think over time he wanted to spend more time with his family and be closer to the United States,” Freedman said. LIV has traveled to Australia, Singapore and other places around the world.
There had long been rumors that Koepka had buyer’s remorse, and there were times over the last year where he was rather quiet about his future at LIV.
“I don’t know if Brooks really made the decision to retire before he made that decision, did he? It had very little to do with golf and a lot to do with family,” Freedman said. “Maybe all athletes are like that, right? A happy life, a happy home, you can excel as an athlete in your best shape. That’s the key, is making sure he’s happy and he’s comfortable.”
Despite Koepka’s divorce from LIV, Freedman said “everyone was respectful in the process and everyone was attentive to the needs of each party.”
Brooks Koepka plays his shot from the first tee during the final round of the US Open on June 15, 2025. (Charles LeClaire/Imagn Images)
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“Brooks and I worked with other team members and people at LIV to try to come up with a structure that would work for everyone,” Freedman said. “And for Brooks to get the outcome he wanted, I think Brooks has nothing but respect for LIV, it was a respectful process, and I think everyone saw the benefit of Brooks being able to be happy and do what he wanted to do, which was be closer to home, closer to his child, closer to his wife. He went through personal things and really wanted to approach them from a human perspective.”
Freedman also praised the PGA Tour for welcoming Koepka with semi-open arms.
“I think the reaction has been really positive. It’s great. The PGA has been wonderful, they’ve welcomed him back. He definitely has restrictions and he’ll respect them. But I think they’ve been amazing in their welcome,” Freedman said. “I think he’s really excited. I think he’s excited to make amends with the players and do his best to kind of be a golfer among golfers, as a worker among workers, and really go out there and be humble and come in with the humility and grace that Brooks walks with.”
Koepka certainly seems happy to be back on the PGA Tour, but Freedman doesn’t think he regretted playing at LIV.
Brooks Koepka poses after winning the 2019 PGA Championship on the Bethpage Black Course on May 19, 2019 in Farmingdale, New York. (Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“I don’t think he regretted going to LIV. I think everyone wants everyone to get along better, right?” » Freedman said. “There was a certain capacity where people had to play really well together in the sandbox, and that situation didn’t cause as many problems for people. I think if there’s one regret, it’s probably that.”
