LIV Golf returnee Brooks Koepka needed a little help to make it into the RBC Heritage field this week – and things didn’t go his way.
The five-time major winner would have once been a guarantee to tee it up at Harbour Town Links. However, following his LIV defection and subsequent PGA Tour return, Koepka has found himself on the outside looking in.
Despite not being a confirmed member of the field, Koepka was still on Hilton Head Island on Thursday and he was caught playing the waiting game.
The 35-year-old, once one of the biggest stars on the PGA Tour, was first alternate for the $20million signature event, meaning he would be the first player called up should there be any late withdrawals from this week’s restricted field.
Koepka, who has been forced to regain top billing on the Tour following his LIV Golf stint, was captured biding his time, lounging back in a patio chair with a Starbucks coffee cup on the table in front of him.
He clutched his phone in his hand ready to leap into action should the call up come and covered his face with his white Nike cap.
Brooks Koepka was forced to play the waiting game as first alternate for the RBC Heritage
Following his return to the PGA Tour, the American was not a guarantee for the restricted field
Koepka is pictured with his wife, Jena Sims, and their son Crew at the Masters last week
Max Homa and Canada’s Sudarshan Yellamaraju were the last pair to tee off at 2:10pm ET, marking Koepka’s last chance at making it into the field. However, there were no last-gasp withdrawals, meaning Koepka’s waiting was all in vain.
Michael Thorbjornsen had initially been listed as the first alternate, until he replaced Justin Rose in the 82-player field, bumping Koepka up the list.
Rose withdrew from the event following another heartbreaking finish to the Masters. The Englishman had led by two at one point during the final round at Augusta National before letting it slip and finishing tied-third one year after losing to Rory McIlroy in a playoff.
Koepka announced he was walking away from the final 12 months of his LIV deal shortly before Christmas. He was permitted to return to the PGA Tour under its ‘Returning Members Program’.
The scheme offered Koepka, who joined LIV for a signing fee in the region of $100million, a one-time reinstatement in exchange for a $5 million charity contribution and a five-year forfeiture of the PGA Tour’s Player Equity Program.
However, he hasn’t been allowed to waltz back, having to work to re-establish his place on the Tour before earning his spots in the lucrative signature events.
Koepka will next tee it up at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans from April 23 to 26 when he will pair up with Shane Lowry.
