Brooks Koepka Plays $4 Million Myrtle Beach Event as He Tries to Reclaim PGA Tour Status
Updated
Updated · The Wall Street Journal · May 11
Brooks Koepka Plays $4 Million Myrtle Beach Event as He Tries to Reclaim PGA Tour Status
13 articles · Updated · The Wall Street Journal · May 11
Tied for 11th at the Myrtle Beach Classic, Brooks Koepka spent last week in a PGA Tour alternate-field event rather than the $20 million signature tournament at Quail Hollow.
The five-time major champion returned from LIV earlier this year through a one-time path for recent major winners, but he still lacks the points and qualifying status needed for 72-man signature events.
Koepka had already shown up as the first alternate at two signature events this season, only to miss out when no late withdrawals opened a spot.
His comeback has carried a steep cost: the Tour says he gave up bonuses and equity worth as much as $90 million, on top of a charitable donation.
The grind offers a preview for other former LIV stars as Saudi-backed LIV faces a funding cutoff after this season and players such as Jon Rahm and Patrick Reed weigh PGA Tour routes.
As Koepka struggles for PGA Tour entry, has Patrick Reed quietly forged the true comeback blueprint for LIV golfers in Europe?
If LIV Golf collapses, will its biggest stars be trapped by contracts or welcomed back to a transformed PGA Tour?
With PIF pulling its billions, is LIV Golf a failed experiment or the catalyst that forever changed professional golf?
Redemption at a Price: Brooks Koepka’s $5 Million Path Back to the PGA Tour at the 2026 Myrtle Beach Classic
Overview
The 2026 ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic was a key PGA Tour event held at the Dunes Golf and Beach Club, featuring a 120-player field and a 36-hole cut that left 76 players to finish the tournament. As the 19th event of the season, it offered important rewards like FedEx Cup and World Ranking points. The tournament took place at the same time as the higher-profile Truist Championship, which faced weather delays, while the Myrtle Beach Classic ran smoothly. This event provided a valuable opportunity for players to compete for significant incentives and showcase their skills on the PGA Tour.