Brooks Koepka's forgotten LIV Golf teammate confirms comeback

Brooks Koepka's brother Chase is returning to professional golf in 2025. 

The younger sibling of the five-time major champion played in the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational Series in 2022. 

He was relegated from the PIF-backed league in 2023 and hasn't teed it up in any professional for 15 months. 

Chase did sign up for LIV's version of Q-School last year following his finish in the drop zone.

But he decided to withdraw from the field without specifying a reason. He did not play in any professional event in 2024. 

The 30-year-old will make his return at the Smart Infinity Philippine Open, which takes place in Manilla over 23-26 January. 

It is an Asian Tour played on the Masters Course at The Manila Southwoods Golf & Country Club. The prize purse is $500,000.

Chase is listed under the category: 'LIV exemptions'. 

Former LIV players Jed Morgan, Sihwan Kim and Scott Vincent are also in the field. 

Brooks Koepka will get his 2025 season underway in a few weeks. 

His Smash GC side remains unchanged and will once again feature Graeme McDowell, Jason Kokrak and Talor Gooch. 

LIV's third full season begins on 6 February in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Tournaments will be broadcast on Fox Sports.

Brooks currently has most wins in the LIV Golf League. 

Last August, he defeated Jon Rahm in a playoff at LIV Golf Greenbrier to take his tally of victories in the rival league to five.

Burmester defends LIV signing

One man who will be back with LIV in 2025 is Branden Grace. 

Grace finished in the relegation zone in 2024 after a torrid, injury-ridden campaign. 

He almost won his spot back with LIV in their Promotions event last December. 

But Max Lee pulled away down the stretch to deny the South African. 

Yet rather than being dropped altogether, Grace has got himself a new, two-year contract with LIV. 

He will once again play with the Stinger team alongside Louis Oosthuizen, Dean Burmester and Charl Schwartzel.

The decision has been heavily criticised by some who have suggested there is no point in the relegation system. 

But Burmester has defended the move vehemently. 

He told bunkered: "If you look at team sport around the world, there isn't really promotion and relegation

"If they're modelling it on F1 or [American] football, it's a selection process and maybe that should be what it is.

"We don't have world ranking points and it doesn't look like they're ever going to get any so we might as well make it a selection process. 

"It's a league. It's not a tour. If they feel the need to have promotion – which I think is important to get young blood in – then they'll have to iron it out and come up with a better system."

Burmester also told the publication there 'business argument' to retain Grace was stronger as they are trying to hold a LIV event in South Africa in the future. 

Conversations are being held now to determine a potential venue, he added. 

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