Former Masters champion: Brooks Koepka really wants to rejoin PGA Tour

Former Masters champion Fred Couples has claimed Brooks Koepka 'really wants to come back and play the PGA Tour'. 

Koepka was among the first wave of recruits to join the LIV Golf League in 2022. 

The American penned a multi-year deal reportedly worth more than $100m and has been banned from competing in PGA Tour events ever since. 

There has been speculation recently that Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau's contracts are up for renewal. 

"I talked to Brooks Koepka all the time," Couples told Sports Radio 93.3 FM. 

"I love Brooks Koepka, and I'm not going to say anything extra except I talk to him all the time. He wants to come back. 

"I will say that I believe he really wants to come back and play the Tour."

Koepka has expressed varying thoughts since joining the PIF-backed league about returning to the North American circuit. 

In June 2023, he did concede that there were certain events that he would love to participate in such as the Players Championship and WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale. 

"I mean you have your favorite events," Koepka previously said.  

"Like the Waste Management. Have missed playing. Would have to go through the whole schedule—there's certain events you always like."

A PGA Tour return for Koepka and other high-profile LIV names is not out of the realms of possibility now. 

It is understood the Tour and LIV's backers - the Saudi PIF - are close to announcing a deal that will end the golf wars.

Said deal would likely see the PIF taking an equity stake in the for-profit PGA Tour Enterprises. 

Whilst the details of any agreement are still the subject of widespread speculation, it is understood that it would allow for some cross-pollination between LIV and the US PGA. 

Rory McIlroy has called for players such as Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, Cameron Smith and Koepka to return to the PGA Tour despite the fact some golfers may still harbour ill feeling towards the LIV players. 

For this to happen, it would mean that the likes of Koepka et al could take the places of several PGA Tour players in the signature events. 

Couples acknowledged this could be a problem. 

"But for me personally, there are a lot of guys that are going to be pushed out, he said. 

"I don't know how you get an elevated event with 72 people and bring seven superstars in. What do you tell those other seven? Bye-bye."