Koepka back at exclusive tournament that banned | Golf News

Brooks Koepka’s comeback to the PGA Tour consists of an invitation to one of golf’s most exclusive occasions: the Seminole Pro-Member.

The 1929 Donald Ross design is one of the best golf programs in the world, but securing a tee time is sort of inconceivable. The non-public membership is accessible to a choose few, with seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady and quite a few billionaires among a small listing of members.

The 2026 version of the tournament kicks off at the Juno Beach course on Monday, and Koepka will compete for the first time since 2019, when he teamed up with NFL Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald.

Koepka has been a frequent participant over the years, though he sat out the 18-hole tournament from 2020-22, and he was barred from competing in the 2023-25 editions after becoming a member of LIV Golf, with members of the breakaway league not invited.

Koepka departed LIV in December, stating he needed to spend more time in the U.S. with his household, and rejoined the PGA Tour a few weeks later.

This tournament presents a great expertise for Seminole’s members, but what’s in it for the gamers?

Well, it is an distinctive course – ranked No. 55 in the world by Top 100 Golf Courses – and it gives an alternative to community with some of the most influential figures in business and sports activities.

Koepka is partnering with Brett Overman, and they teed off at 8:27 a. m. ET. In the same group, PGA Tour winner Ryan Fox is competing with Jimmy Dunne, the investment banker who performed a essential position in the PGA Tour’s negotiations with LIV Golf before resigning from the coverage board in 2024.

Tommy Fleetwood is competing with South African billionaire Johann Rupert, who hosts the DP World Tour’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred is also a Seminole Member, and he’s competing with Eric Cole.

Scottie Scheffler and Jordan Spieth are among the outstanding gamers who have opted out of this 12 months’s event. Woods, meanwhile, shouldn’t be taking part as he continues his recovery from back surgical procedure.

Unlike many of the big names competing on Monday, Koepka won’t be touring to Bay Hill to take part in the Arnold Palmer Invitational later this week. The five-time major champion must qualify for the tour’s signature occasions since returning in January, and his efficiency through three occasions was not adequate to secure a spot at Bay Hill.