Weekend Wrap - Back In The Saddle Edition

It's been a while, eh?  I'm not expecting any traffic for this post, as I expect folks have long since tired of hitting refresh and seeing no updates.  In my defense, it's not like there's been any actual news to muse upon....

I am headed West tomorrow, where the paucity of snow should allow for blogging, unless inertia prevails.  Some actual golf news or, even better, and actual controversy, might be helpful....

Not going to push myself too hard until I get my sea legs back, but where shall we start?

Wither Brooksie - An actual story, although this bit should come with a spit-take warning:

Brooks Koepka just became the most interesting man in golf — again

That "again" is really a laugher, as I'm not sure that he's even the most interesting frat boy in golf.   

He may be the 244th-ranked player in the world but with one stunning decision, Brooks Koepka has become golf’s most interesting man . . . again.

Koepka has been the best golfer in the world and, at times, the game’s most intriguing personality — but as we race toward 2026, the former seems like a distant memory while, as of Tuesday evening, he has wrested back the latter title.

Koepka has officially moved on from Smash GC and his own LIV Golf experiment, a 3.5-year journey that rewarded him generational wealth. Which means his next move — paving a Life after LIV, while still in his playing prime — will be analyzed and anticipated by everyone from Justin Thomas to Joe Schmoe to John Henry. According to the complimentary public statements, Koepka will spend more time with his family. But after that…

Who knows?

And that might be the point.

OK, we have what I'll concede is a moderately interesting situation, but the underlying protagonist remains aloof and unsympathetic.  The story itself is interesting, though, but mostly for what it tells us about LIV.  Beginning with, well, the beginning:

There has long been a jocky looseness to Koepka’s decisions — this is a guy who dyed his hair blonde in the months before his wedding — but his move to LIV was no lark. It came in 2022, when he was racking up more injuries than victories and pondering whether his career as an elite player might be cooked. The timing coincided neatly with the year when Saudi funding upended the sport, and Koepka saw a fat check on offer, eventually committing to four years. And yet, throughout his time at LIV, during which he won four times, it never fully seemed like he was all-in on the league. When his fellow captains gushed about the league’s momentum, he was far more measured. When he won the 2023 PGA Championship, he was given every opportunity to make it a victory for LIV. He never took the bait. Now, on the eve of that contract’s final year, the sides have “amicably” parted ways. 

Most of the guys allegedly went to LIV to play less.  Brooks, more tellingly, went to LIV because he was unsure whether he was physically able to play golf.  Once he got healthy, the cashed checks diminished in value....

The last Tour Confidential of 2025 had this:

In an unprecedented move in LIV Golf’s brief history, the league announced it had split “amicably” with five-time major winner Brooks Koepka who, via the statement, said he wanted to prioritize spending more time with family. What does the domino effect — for LIV, the PGA Tour, and Koepka — look like? And which one of those is more intriguing to you?

Dylan Dethier: We at GOLF had a conversation in late 2022 about which LIV defector the PGA

Tour would miss the most. There were strong arguments for Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson (and we mostly whiffed on Bryson, who is probably the current answer) but I said Brooks Koepka for two reasons: He was, at the time, this generation’s greatest major champ (Rory McIlroy has since tied him). And because of that alpha-dog major record, he could have stayed and doubled down on the idea that the PGA Tour is where the fiercest competitors play. In other words, when he left the PGA Tour, that was a massive blow — and it’s a massive deal that he’s leaving LIV.

What’s next? DeChambeau now has an unthinkable amount of leverage as he renegotiates his own contract with LIV. The PGA Tour is clearly eager to get Koepka back — but will have to strike a delicate balance when it comes to actually bringing him into the fold. But what does Koepka himself want?! I’m most interested to hear where his priorities are and what he thinks of the pro golf ecosystem, if we get him speaking freely.

Josh Schrock: The most intriguing part of this to me is what it means for the PGA Tour and how they handle bringing Koepka back. There has understandably been a lot of talk about Koepka’s exodus potentially being the start of a death blow for LIV, but I think it’s more likely this is just Brooks Koepka being Brooks Koepka. He was never fully bought into LIV. When he won the PGA in 2023, he was famously uninterested in letting LIV share the credit for the win. He has been open that he might have made a different decision had his health situation — or knowledge of his future health — been different in 2022. This might end up only being about Brooks Koepka not being interested in going through the LIV motions anymore.

He was never all that interested in run-of-the-mill PGA Tour events when he was a member, either. But how the PGA Tour works to bring him back and the punishment (or lack thereof) they hand out will be telling as the fracture makes its way into Year 5.

As Dylan noted, Bryson has a lot of leverage now in contract negotiations and clearly knows it based on his recent comments. It will be fascinating to see how it all unfolds over the next handful of months.

Sean Zak: I would hardly be shocked if Koepka and DeChambeau have been in touch about their concurrent decisions. They’re somewhat linked, as discussed above. I think DeChambeau will now rightfully ask for a major, major payday — or insist that LIV be serious about the major, major payday he was already asking for. There’s a difference, though — Koepka ended his deal with LIV. It sounds like DeChambeau is at least interested in playing his out for one more season, if not more.

Massive?  The man won exactly four PGA Tour events, so we seem to be over-interpreting more than a little, no?  But these guys don't seem to do irony, so bear with me:

The PGA Tour released a somewhat cryptic response to the Koepka news. Would Koepka returning to the PGA Tour be bigger for the Tour, or most disastrous for LIV?

Dethier: It would be a much bigger deal for the PGA Tour if he came back. Koepka has already struck LIV a massive blow by leaving — the next step is bigger for the Tour.

Schrock: Agree with Dylan. Koepka becoming the first big name to leave LIV with time still on his contract has already done damage to the breakaway league but the bigger deal is how and if he returns. If the PGA Tour gets Brooks Koepka back, which we assume they will at some point, that’s a big deal for the Tour.

Zak: Devil’s advocate time. LIV hasn’t added anyone of note in two years. It now lost a major name and team captain for the first time. On paper, that looks like a plateau and then a step in the wrong direction. If 2024/2025 was LIV’s plateau, how high was the league’s peak? I know that sounds awfully premature, but where is the momentum entering season 4?

If you wanted to ask the stupidest question in Tour Confidential history, what would you do differently?  LIV has taken its hit, which is actually even a bit more profound in that Brooks left without a path back to the PGA (though there is likely some winking and nodding going on behind the scenes).

To me, the bigger picture is less favorable to the seeming winners.  The big picture look at golf as affected by LIV presents quite the grim picture for the seeming winners in this battle.  The primary effect of LIV, at least to this observer, is to expose the underlying weakness of all golf tours, especially the Big Kahuna, because of their lack of control over the majors.  

The PGA Tour, in order to placate the outsized egos of the elite players they needed to stay, has weakened their most important events.  Most folks are focused on the handful of LIV defectors that weaken Tour fields, but that's dwarfed by leaving half the field on the outside looking in.  In response to the competitive threat from LIV, they've boldly decided to weaken their own product.  What, you think Bud Light is the only product utterly indifferent to their customers?

Where will Brooks play in 2025?  It's not like his recent play has us on the edge of our seats, but I assume his primary path will be through Euro Tour membership, which is full circle for him given how he came up in golf.  What your humble blogger doesn't know if whether he can receive sponsors' exemptions, and this AI response doesn't exactly clarify that question:

Yes, Brooks Koepka could receive sponsor exemptions to PGA Tour events, but it's complicated by his status after moving to LIV Golf and potential suspensions, meaning he'd likely need to earn his way back through current exemptions, Q-School, or Korn Ferry Tour, while major wins might offer some pathway to majors regardless. While his past wins grant significant exemptions, his LIV affiliation and tour penalties mean he might have to qualify or use limited sponsor invites for regular PGA Tour events, making a full return challenging but possible.

Yanno, I'm realizing that I've missed an opportunity.  Blogging is difficult and time-consuming.....  I should just ask ChatGPT or Grok to write my posts, no?  Anybody think they could tell the difference?  OK, the absence of typos might be a tell, but other than that?

The Tiger Obsession - We can all agree that we need a crash program to develop a vaccine, but let the silliness commence:

This week, on Dec. 30, Tiger Woods turns 50. Easy one: what’s been your favorite Tiger moment you’ve seen or been a part of?

Dethier: I was lucky enough to cover a bunch of Tiger tournaments in the 2018-2019 range when he was showing signs of a comeback underway. The 2018 Valspar Championship, for example, was an unexpected blast. The 2018 PGA at Bellerive was electric. There was also a moment in 2020 — perhaps his last as a major championship contender — that has stuck with me. But yeah, it was obviously the 2019 Masters. Arguably the greatest golf tournament of all time, we got the result everybody wanted to see and you could taste the euphoria in the air.

Schrock: How could it not be the 2019 Masters? A perfect storybook finish to a legendary golf career. We can hope there’s one more moment for Tiger, but he already gave us it in 2019.

Zak: Watching Woods win the 2019 Masters from inside the Augusta National locker room was fun. Standing between Martin Kaymer and Rickie Fowler as they watched the broadcast, unable to look away, realizing they were now victims to the same scheme the old-heads always told them about. He did it again and he did it to a new generation of stars: Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and others, who all had a chance that Sunday. Still feels hard to believe.

Are you with me on how inane this is?  You're asking three young punk writers for their favorite Tiger moment, guys who were like three years old in 1997.  What a shock they all cite 2019, it's the only major of Tiger's that they remember.

Tiger’s role in pro golf is much different now than it was 30 years ago. Decades from now, how will we look back at Tiger post-50 and where will we notice his biggest influences?

Dethier: I think we’ll marvel at the fact that he went from being arguably the greatest golfer in history to an in-the-weeds administrator. But I guess I also still hope we’re marveling at the truly unthinkable comeback he made after his sixth back surgery.

Schrock: His on-course feats will always top the list but I do think that in 30 years we could look back on Tiger post-50 and see how he shaped what we will then know pro golf to be. He and Brian Rolapp are going to be the architects of the PGA Tour’s new reality and it’s clear that TIger is very focused on that being part of his legacy. Let’s also not forget much money Tiger made everyone else during his career — our James Colgan had a great piece on the financial Tiger effect that is worth your time.

Zak: I think he has a chance to do something big with the Ryder Cup — to grab the reigns from the PGA of America and lead the Americans back to glory. But as I wrote the other day, it doesn’t seem likely to happen soon. In the meantime, I suppose he’ll be grinding on reshaping the structure of the Tour’s competitive platform. That should keep him plenty busy.

Sean, you might want to reality test that answer.  The golf world needed Tiger to captain that Ryder Cup team at Bethpage and he, well, he just couldn't be bothered.  They seem unable to recognize that Tiger does what Tiger wants, and nothing more.  They uncritically credit him with transformational changes, without any consideration of whose interest will dominate.   

I'm a lone voice in the wilderness, but I would think we'd want to understand his Ryder Cup no-show before handing him the keys to the kingdom.  

Geoff has a 2026 preview post up with his tongue planted firmly within his cheek, including this Tiger call-out:

Tiger Woods tells a backed media center at the Cologuard Classic that’s he’s still waiting for the phone call about captaining the 2027 Ryder Cup team. But the PGA of America is in extended “talks” with Nick Saban about the job after Ryder Cup Captain’s Committee member Justin Thomas suggested the former Alabama coach is the “ideal leader” for 2027’s matches at Adare Manor.

More likely he's awaiting finalized financial arrangements from his buddy J.P. McManus.  Tiger should actually recuse himself, but now I'll need to give you a moment to stop laughing....

The Year Ahead - Predictions are hard, especially about the future.  I'll grab some bits from the first Tour Confidential of 2026, and maybe some of Geoff's bits as well:

1. Welcome to the first Tour Confidential of 2026, where we are still a week away from the opening PGA Tour tournament of the year, yet still have plenty to discuss. Let’s get into our first topic: Look into your crystal ball and give us your boldest bold prediction for the year.

Josh Sens: Scottie Scheffler wins at Shinnecock (not bold; just inevitable) to wrap up the career grand slam, and Fred Ridley announces that the Masters will move to a limited-flight ball by 2030.

Zephyr Melton: Sens’ first prediction is about as lukewarm as they come, but the second is quite tasty. I’ll say that we’ll see Brooks Koepka on the PGA Tour sometime this year. He may be suspended from certain events, but I’d have to imagine the Tour will allow him back on a limited basis.

Nick Piastowski: Some good ones above! I’ll use Sens’ theme and predict that Jordan Spieth wins the PGA Championship and completes the grand slam. The question wanted bold, so let’s go bold.

Jordan Spieth?  We'll credit Nick for going way out on a limb, but Jordan's career slam exists only as a fever dream in Nick's mind.

2. OK, now switch leagues from your previous bold prediction and give us one more.

Sens: LIV offers Bryson DeChambeau a $1 billion contract extension.

Melton: Jeeno Thitikul wins two majors. She’s been on the doorstep so many times, it’s baffling she doesn’t have one yet. I think 2026 for Jeeno will be much like 2024 was for Xander Schauffele.

Piastowski: More good ones! Let’s keep it rolling. Tiger Woods wins the U.S. … Senior Open. But maybe that’s not bold. So here’s another: I think we hear more chatter about Australia hosting a major championship.

Jeeno is an actual good call, but what do we think the odds are that Tiger even plays the Senior Open?  Nick is on a roll, but picking the one event where he can't ride seems, well, out there.

3. What 2026 major venue are you most looking forward to and why?

Sens: The U.S. Open at Shinnecock. Always fun to watch the best take on this undeniably great design, made even more intriguing when the course setup gets pushed to the edge for the national championship.

Melton: Riviera for the U.S. Women’s Open. I’ve seen the men tackle the George Thomas design several times in February, but I’m intrigued to see how it plays with the USGA in charge in June. I have a feeling it could be an all-time great USWO host venue.

Piastowski: All of the above! I’ll add a couple: Aronimink hosts its first men’s major since 1962, and the Chevron, according to reports, will be played at Houston’s Memorial Park, a muni, and that’s how you ‘grow the game.’

 Not an actually bad set of answers.  For me it's Aronimink, because we've only seen it the once.

4. And what 2026 storyline are you already salivating over?

Sens: I try not to salivate in public, but I am very curious to see whether/how new commish Brian Rolapp remakes the Tour. Clearly, the old model needs disrupting, but what shape will the new version take?

Melton: I’m eager to see if Sens can improve his understanding of technology (I currently operate as his IT support guy). Outside of that, I’ll be keeping a close eye on the golf-ball roll-back. The issue wasn’t discussed much in 2025, but as we get closer to the 2028 date of pros using the new ball, I’m sure the debate will ramp up even more.

Sens: I’ve drafted a pithy comeback and have sent it out by carrier pigeon.

Piastowski: LOL! Let’s stay with Sens’ commissioner theme and I’ll say that I’m interested to see how new LPGA boss Craig Kessler continues to build momentum. He’s secured a better TV deal — but now what? I also want to see if Rory McIlroy gets a Guinness tap installed for the Masters Champions Dinner.

 More importantly, will Tiger show for Rory's Dinner?  

Geoff has a dissenting thought on his hometown:

The final groups at Riviera’s U.S. Women’s Open will have more people inside the ropes than outside. As proven at the 1983 PGA, 1995 PGA, and 1998 U.S. Senior Open, LA’s a one-golf-event-a-year town. But the peaceful vibe fails to discourage Yuka Saso, who wins her third U.S. Women’s Open.

Yeah, he's probably correct given that it's mid-summer.  While the point made above about conditions is correct, I'd add that when the ladies play venues that we see the men on frequently, it's often to the disadvantage of the lasses.

I'm going to wrap here, and wish you all a belated Happy New Year.  I'll be back from Western HQ as news and interest allow.  We're a mere three months out from Augusta, so I hope that brings a smile to your face.