Shane Lowry admits that Brooks Koepka’s return will benefit the PGA Tour but otherwise he doesn’t really care too much about what happens with players moving to and from LIV having mentally removed himself from conversations years ago.
Earlier this week, it was confirmed that Koepka was returning to the PGA Tour where he will compete at the Farmers Insurance Open and WM Phoenix Open having left the Saudi backed LIV before Christmas. Lowry, who spoke a little bit of politics with Koepka during a round at the Amgen Irish Open last year, isn’t overly fussed by the uncertainty surrounding LIV at present.
“I’ve thought about it over the last few days,” Lowry said ahead of the opening round in Dubai speaking to Golf Digest Middle East. I don’t really…not that I don’t care, but… About three or four years ago when all of this started kicking off, I spent a year on the PAC on the PGA Tour, sort of worrying about what everyone was doing, what was going on, what was happening.
“It was a bit miserable, to be honest. About two years ago, I really made a conscious decision to not really care about what anyone else was doing and just worry about my own golf, worry number one is myself and I’ll take care of my own business.”
Koepka as it stands won’t be elegible for PGA Tour equity payments up to 2030 while he won’t be able to earn any money from the FedEx Cup bonus pool at the end of the season. While he is locked out of the Signature Events for now, Lowry believes Koepka’s presence in the regular events will prove very beneficial for the tour’s coverage.
“I think it’s great for Brooks that he’s back on the PGA Tour, the fact he was able to get back so quickly is obviously good for him. The smaller events on the PGA Tour that he plays in will benefit from that. So, yeah, maybe it is good for the PGA Tour.”
Koepka has to pay a $5m charitable donation as further penance for joining LIV Golf in 2022 and Lowry doesn’t think the five-time major winner will be too fussed about being shut out from the big money bonuses that have been implemented on the PGA Tour in his absence.
“Yeah but I also didn’t do the lotto this week, I could miss out on $50 million for doing that!
“It’s ifs and buts, if he doesn’t finish up there on the PGA Tour, he doesn’t benefit from any of those anyways. He has to play well to reap those benefits first.”
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