Rory McIlroy Gives Brutally Honest Assessment Of Brooks Koepka’s PGA Tour Return

Rory McIlroy has given his honest assessment of Brooks Koepka leaving LIV Golf and returning to the PGA Tour.

The career Grand Slam winner has welcomed Koepka back with open arms.

Rory McIlroy Assesses Brooks Koepka PGA Tour Return

Rory McIlroy believes that Brooks Koepka’s return to the PGA Tour can only be a good thing for golf.

The Northern Irishman, who made a strong start in Round 1 of the Dubai Invitational with an early lead, feels that Koepka’s return will make the traditional tours stronger going forward.

Koepka is a five-time major champion, and was one of the first players to move across to LIV a few years ago. The American also became the first LIV player to win a major championship whilst not competing on the PGA Tour, clinching the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill.

‘Brooksy’ has now become the first player to leave the PGA Tour for LIV to make a U-turn and come back again. This wasn’t without penalty, with Koepka’s PGA Tour return reportedly costing him the best part of $50million.

In an interview with @jcorrigangolf, Rory McIlroy had plenty to say about LIV Golf's future after Brooks Koepka's signing.

"It’s not as if they made any huge signings this year, is it?" McIlroy told The Telegraph. "They haven’t signed anyone who moves the needle and I don’t… pic.twitter.com/lfveKfbX2X

— Cameron Jourdan (@Cam_Jourdan) January 15, 2026

McIlroy feels Koepka’s return can only be a good thing, and feels the multiple major champion is back where he belongs on golf’s premium tour:

“This is great as it gets Brooks back to where he belongs…He is one of the best players in the world and anything that makes the traditional tours stronger is a good thing in my book,” McIlroy told The Telegraph.

Not all players share McIlroy’s optimism about Koepka’s PGA Tour return. Former US Open champion Wyndham Clark isn’t so keen on Koepka returning, and neither is Golf Channel analyst Brandon Chamblee. Chamblee disagrees with McIlroy’s stance, and feels there should have been a far heftier penalty for the American.

That being said, McIlroy, Koepka, Scottie Scheffler and co will once again be locking horns on a more regular basis on the PGA Tour. Having the world’s best players going head-to-head more often can only be a good thing for the sport.

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Koepka Could Rival McIlroy For Majors In 2026

With Brooks Koepka officially returning to the PGA Tour, this means golf fans will see the five-time major champion competing on a far more regular basis.

Koepka is undoubtedly one of the greatest golfers of his generation, alongside McIlroy and Scheffler. Having won five majors already, the nine-time PGA Tour winner evidently has what it takes to win the biggest prizes in world golf.

Now that Koepka will be back playing more regularly on the PGA Tour, this could well improve his chances of winning more majors. The American has made no secret in the past that winning majors is his focus, with the 35-year-old confident of winning plenty more before he retires from golf.

Scheffler remains the best player in the world by quite some distance at this moment in time. That being said, McIlroy obviously completed the career Grand Slam last year at the Masters. These are the type of players Koepka will feel he is competing against for majors once again.

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Koepka’s last major success came in 2023 at the PGA Championship at Oak Hill, but he has performed poorly in all of them since. Having him back on the PGA Tour will likely help his game, meaning he could rival McIlroy, Scheffler and co for majors more regularly going forward.

McIlroy changed clubs for the first time since 2017 in what was a huge shock to the golfing world, but his iron switch seems to be working a treat so far. He led the 2026 Dubai Invitational after Round 1, and is right there at the top of the leaderboard after two rounds as well.

If McIlroy brings his A-game with his new irons and Koepka returns to his previous form, this year could prove to be a monumental one for golf.