BROOKS GETS A GLEE PASS FROM STARS

GOLF FORMER Open champion Brian Harman has claimed the PGA Tour is “stronger” with the return of Brooks Koepka from LIV Golf. And fellow Major winner Jordan Spieth said Koepka has paid a “substantial” financial penalty and now just needs to play “really good golf”.

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Koepka, 35, quit LIV Golf after four seasons last month and faced a oneyear ban to return to the PGA Tour. But the new Returning Members Program allows the fivetime Major winner to tee up at the Farmers Insurance Open later this month. Koepka qualifies because he won the 2023 US PGA and has been away for more than two years.

He is to make a $5million (£3.7m) donation to charity and will also miss out on up to $85m (£63m) in the Player Equity Program which offers a stake in the PGA Tour to loyal players.