Running 2026 Golf Thread

[TigerVols]

Son in law has booked us next Wednesday for my first round of golf in this century so I thought I’d kick the thread off by noting I’m sad the Sentry in Maui is not teeing off the season tomorrow.

 

[Pickleballgolds]

The Tour whacked The Sentry three months ago but evidently wasn’t aware it was possible for course conditions to improve. While there’s no Tour event there this week, the course is collecting $400+ from hundreds of visiting tourists and the place looks as lush as always.

 

[playthrough]

Welcome back, Brooks

Brooks Koepka Will Return to the PGA Tour This Month, With Restrictions

 

[Cosmo]

Just got this in my inbox. Brooks is back, but he's paying a price.

As the 2026 PGA TOUR Season begins this week at the Sony Open in Hawaii, I wanted to provide an update to our fans on recent player developments that have been in the news, as well as the PGA TOUR’s response to this unique situation.



Since becoming CEO last year, my primary focus has been a commitment to our fans to create the best version of the PGA TOUR. I promised that together we would respect the past while building the future, challenging ourselves to reach new fans and create a TOUR that both reflects the best of sports competition and retains the elite competitive environment our fans expect every week.



I’ve been fortunate to hear and learn from so many of our fans on what makes the PGA TOUR special, along with the ways we can further enhance the drama and consequence of competing at the highest level of the game. And one thing has been clear across each of those conversations—you all want the best players in the world competing against each other more often.



On December 23, 2025, Brooks Koepka notified the PGA TOUR that his previous affiliation had concluded, and he subsequently applied for reinstatement of TOUR membership. This prompted our Boards to evaluate how we deliver the best version of the PGA TOUR for our fans, players and partners—with severe and justified consequences—which has resulted in our new Returning Member Program.



Designed to provide an alternative path back to PGA TOUR competition for past members who have achieved the highest accomplishments in the game, the Returning Member Program mandates heavy and appropriate limitations to both tournament access and potential earnings that we believe properly holds returning members accountable for substantial compensation earned elsewhere. It also includes elite performance-based criteria that requires winning THE PLAYERS Championship, Masters Tournament, PGA Championship, U.S. Open or The Open Championship between 2022 and 2025.



Its strict limitations, which Brooks has agreed to, include a five-year forfeiture of potential equity in the PGA TOUR's Player Equity Program, representing one of the largest financial repercussions in professional sports history, with estimations that he could miss out on approximately $50-85 million in potential earnings, depending on his competitive performance and the growth of the TOUR. At the request of the PGA TOUR, Brooks has also agreed to make a $5 million charitable contribution, the recipient(s) of which will be determined jointly.



Importantly, the Returning Member Program will not take away playing opportunities from current members—fields will be expanded as needed.



Other eligible players interested in seeking PGA TOUR reinstatement must do so by the time the Returning Member Program closes on Monday, February 2. This is a one-time, defined window and does not set a precedent for future situations. Once the door closes, there is no promise that this path will be available again.



We will continue to aggressively pursue anything that enhances the fan experience and makes the PGA TOUR stronger. This is part of our commitment to fans, who expect the world’s best players to compete on the PGA TOUR week in and week out.

 

[Cosmo]

JINX!

 

[playthrough]

The CEO tries to make it sound like he's playing hardball:

... representing one of the largest financial repercussions in professional sports history, with estimations that he could miss out on approximately $50-85 million in potential earnings.

Except, ya know, he got a nine-figure bag from LIV.

 

[MileHigh]

The CEO tries to make it sound like he's playing hardball:

... representing one of the largest financial repercussions in professional sports history, with estimations that he could miss out on approximately $50-85 million in potential earnings.

Except, ya know, he got a nine-figure bag from LIV.

I'm OK with it. There's a price being paid, as there should be. But he and the other three who are eligible for this program are good for and needed by the PGA Tour.

 

[Cosmo]

The only people I'd like to see make the switch back are Rahm, Hatton, Cam Smith and Niemann. The rest of them can pound sand. I'm happy to only have to deal with Bryson at majors. He's exhausting.

 

[playthrough]

I'm OK with it. There's a price being paid, as there should be. But he and the other three who are eligible for this program are good for and needed by the PGA Tour.

It's perfect for the Tour to have Brooks for the non-signatures. Surely he'll play the Cognizant and some other events that may be on their deathbeds. Consider it a going-away present.

 

[MileHigh]

Haha.

 

[qtlaw]

Reading through the details, I'm good with Brooks coming back under these terms. "Only" $5M to charity and he loses out on some future stuff (will it be $60m?? who knows).

Most importantly to me, it looked like he wanted to come back and the PGA players are good with this. So who am I to disagree?

Neat to see Brooks is back on the Tour.

 

[Sam Mills 51]

The only people I'd like to see make the switch back are Rahm, Hatton, Cam Smith and Niemann. The rest of them can pound sand. I'm happy to only have to deal with Bryson at majors. He's exhausting.

... and you still like him more than Kopeka ...

(complete with Koepka saying some not-approved-by-the-FCC words ... )

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

The CEO tries to make it sound like he's playing hardball:

... representing one of the largest financial repercussions in professional sports history, with estimations that he could miss out on approximately $50-85 million in potential earnings.

Except, ya know, he got a nine-figure bag from LIV.

You're assuming that he got the whole bag up front. What if it's the golf version of Bobby Bonilla money, without all the guarantees?

 

[Chef2]

Good for Koepka. Good for The Tour.

 

[Pickleballgolds]

Meh. Long ago I gave up thinking I should care about professionals and whether they take home seven figures or eight. This is one good thing about tournament golf; you can ignore the players you don’t care for because there’s always 40 other groups you can follow.

 

[playthrough]

Haha.

Phil was a popular joke yesterday but even if the Tour had said anyone could reapply, he'd have been as likely to do it as I am to enter next year's Q-School.

 

[TigerVols]

Smiley letting it slip that the booth announcers for the Sony Open are...not in Hawai'i. Can't blame Comcast no more!

 

[Webster]

Phil loves paying taxes, so it shouldn’t be a problem

 

[Chef2]

Smiley letting it slip that the booth announcers for the Sony Open are...not in Hawai'i. Can't blame Comcast no more!

Between him, Hicks and Sands…..that telecast is unwatchable.

 

[playthrough]

Smiley letting it slip that the booth announcers for the Sony Open are...not in Hawai'i. Can't blame Comcast no more!

Yikes. Enjoy today's final round, it's the last one you're gonna see of a PGA Tour event in Hawaii.

And how about 62-year-old Vijay Singh taking his career-money exemption and playing for a top-20 today. On one hand that's the randomness of golf, on the other hand it doesn't exactly make the Tour mules look very good.