Not everyone is a fan of the PGA Tour just allowing Brooks Koepka an easy way into the system. Wyndham Clark shared his dissatisfaction with the ‘Returning Members Program’ that gave the former LIV Golf pro a chance to return immediately a couple of weeks ago. And now Hideki Matsuyama has shared his views.
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The 2021 Masters Tournament champion told Today’s Golfer, “I think it’s pretty amazing that Brooks had the courage to make that decision. But I’m puzzled that the PGA Tour didn’t explain anything to the players. At the very least, I didn’t know that such a rule was in place.”
Most former LIV Golf pros have been made to wait a year and earn their membership back into the PGA Tour. Eugenio Chacarra is one such example trying to win his card by performing on the DP World Tour. However, the ex-Smash GC captain was just allowed to enter through a special category.
Matsuyama also added, “While there has been a financial hit, what about the non-monetary aspects? What happened to the rule that players who participated in LIV were not allowed to compete for a year? That’s what I’m thinking about more.”
It is important to note that Matsuyama’s comments were not a sign of personal grudge against Koepka. Actually, the former Masters champ was seen greeting the former LIV Golf pro on the range. He also patted his back. His frustration is more with how the Tour tweaked its rule to make way for Koepka’s return, and he is not the only major champ to voice a similar concern.
It seems one player might be having regrets about his own career choices…
🔗 https://t.co/wrJbtImgGP pic.twitter.com/i0UdStRykL
— Today's Golfer (@TheTodaysGolfer) January 28, 2026
Wyndham Clark also had the same views about the situation as he had stated, “I personally really like Brooks, and I think it’s ultimately really good for the PGA Tour, but also, it’s kind of frustrating that he’s able to get the cake and also eat it, so I’m very torn.”
However, Matsuyama’s comments stand out more because the Japanese golfer rarely speaks on matters beyond the greens. The 33-year-old is a reticent golfer. In fact, back in 2017, it was known that Matsuyama’s wife had given birth to their first child. Curiously enough, no one knew that the Japanese pro was married. Asked about the matter, he simply said, “No one really asked me if I was married, so I didn’t have to answer that question.”
In the last couple of years, from introducing signature events to reducing the number of full-time cards available for players, the PGA Tour under both Jay Monahan and Brian Rolapp has taken momentous and often unpopular decisions. Hideki Matsuyama has rarely spoken on those matters, but the recent development has not sat well with him.
As both major champions explained, it was unfair to everyone else to allow Koepka to get an easy way in. While he did have to forego around $85 million for it, the former LIV Golf pro didn’t serve the year’s suspension or earn his membership.
Instead, the PGA Tour has to work around having Koepka on the field. And they have already started making compromises to accommodate him.
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Is the PGA Tour bending too many rules for Brooks Koepka?
On the surface, it may seem like a big win for Brian Rolapp & Co. LIV Golf has lost one of their biggest stars, and the PGA Tour has retained a five-time major champion. However, Brooks Koepka’s first appearance suggests that he might prove to be a headache for the Tour.
Koepka is teeing off in the Farmers Insurance Open this week.
Many would have thought that he would take the place of an existing member on the field. But the PGA Tour hasn’t allowed that.
Instead, they have decided to increase the field size of the Torrey Pines event from 144 to 147 to accommodate him.
The Farmers Insurance Open will be played with a field of 147 golfers. Two alternatives that had previously not made the tournament will now be included.
Since Koepka doesn’t have a FedEx Cup ranking, we can assume that’s how every event that includes him will be handled this season. While the Tour will allow the players to tee off, it hasn’t yet confirmed if, for 2026, the available full-time cards will be increased to 101.
If not, that will definitely mean that some of the players on the brink of conditional status at the end of the season will have to fight against Brooks Koepka to get a full-time membership for 2027. That might prove to be a huge headache for the PGA Tour.
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