LA JOLLA, Calif. — Brooks Koepka is making his highly anticipated return to the PGA Tour, a journey marked by personal challenges and decisions centered around family. The golfer’s path back began following a heartbreaking experience when he and his wife, Jena Sims, suffered a miscarriage at 16 weeks in September.
In a recent press conference ahead of this week’s Farmers Insurance Open, Koepka reflected on how that loss spurred conversations about prioritizing his family. “Things started to change and evolve,” he said, emphasizing the importance of being home more for his loved ones.
After negotiating an exit from his contract with LIV Golf in December, Koepka expressed gratitude for how LIV handled his departure, highlighting the amicable nature of those discussions. He soon reached out to Tiger Woods, a trusted figure in his career, for support during this transition. Woods has taken on a prominent role as a policy board member and vice chairman of the newly formed PGA Tour Enterprises.
Family has remained central to Koepka’s decisions, which was underscored when Sims shared their devastating loss on Instagram in October, stating, “At 16 weeks, we learned that our baby’s heart had stopped beating. This is a grief no parent is ever prepared for.” She also expressed hope for the future, wishing to give their son, Crew, who is 2 1/2, a sibling one day. Koepka has made it clear that having his family present at events means a great deal to him, which has not been possible in recent years due to extensive travel obligations.
Though many players who transitioned to LIV cited similar family motivations, the reality has been that LIV’s schedules often involve international travel, with only a handful of events staged in the United States. This conflicted with Koepka’s desire to be closer to home.
Koepka’s return to the PGA Tour is facilitated by the Returning Member Program, requiring a $5 million charity donation and imposing certain restrictions, such as exclusion from signature events unless qualifying through tournament play. Despite having received substantial compensation from LIV, Koepka chose this path for the sake of family and personal fulfillment.
He left the PGA Tour during a tumultuous wave of defections in 2022, and while he initially flourished at LIV, recent performances have raised questions, as he struggled in majors over the past two years. Nevertheless, Koepka maintains a positive outlook. “I don’t regret anything I do,” he stated. “I’ve learned a lot… I always enjoyed the ride.”
As Koepka embarks on this new chapter, the support of his family plays a vital role in his journey, providing hope amid life’s challenges. With his return to the PGA Tour, golf fans can expect to see how this seasoned player navigates the upcoming season both on and off the course.