Brian Rolapp and the PGA Tour have plenty on their plate at the moment, and one of the bigger issues is what to do about Brooks Koepka’s situation.
After parting ways with LIV Golf back in December, Koepka has wasted no time in signalling his desire to return, submitting an application to rejoin the PGA Tour.
There is still no word on when he might be back in action. Given how similar cases have been handled in the past, the five-time major winner could be looking at a significant ban before returning to play.
From a business angle, though, it makes sense for those running things out of Ponte Vedra Beach to get Koepka back playing as quickly as they can.
And it could be Thomas Detry who ends up giving Rolapp the answer he is looking for, even if by accident.
How Thomas Detry’s move to LIV Golf might work in the PGA Tour’s favour
Detry is reportedly preparing to sign with LIV Golf, with The Times reporting that he will join the 4Aces alongside fellow Belgian Thomas Pieters.
Losing him is a hit for the PGA Tour, especially after his win at the 2025 WM Phoenix Open.
But while it stings from a competitive standpoint, it will not shift the needle much in terms of television viewership.
LIV have not exactly been flush with big names lately, so picking up someone like Detry is a shrewd bit of business for them.
From a timing perspective, this could open up an opportunity for Koepka to return.
In previous years, players leaving for LIV before January would create openings for others on the tour. For instance, when Laurie Canter returned to LIV in 2025, Dan Brown took his spot on the PGA Tour roster for that season.
But with this year’s campaign already underway, Detry’s exit does not appear to directly benefit anyone waiting in line.
It does not seem likely that Chris Kirk will be given full access to signature events after finishing last season at number 51 in the FedEx Cup standings. Lee Hodges was even further back at number 101 and appears set to miss out on full membership as well.
The cut-off point between full access and nothing has been part of an ongoing debate about whether this system truly reflects merit or if it needs adjusting.
Even though Hodges probably would not mind some late changes if it meant getting more starts throughout the year, Detry’s timing has not worked out in his favour either way.
It appears, however, that Detry’s rumoured switch has occurred too late.
Should this prove to be the situation, the PGA Tour might consider establishing a special exemption. This exemption would allow five-time major champions to participate in every signature event if a vacancy arises.
Why a new Koepka rule might be the right move for the PGA Tour
The idea behind such a rule would clearly be to open the door for Koepka without making it easy for others to follow suit.
People would understand why it was introduced, and it is a better alternative than the tour simply admitting they could not let Koepka sit out an entire year.
The decision could be linked to Detry’s late move to LIV, which left an unfilled spot that had not previously existed.
With that spot now available, there is a reasonable case to be made for granting an exemption to someone with Koepka’s credentials.