Brooks Koepka's Wait for a Spot in the RBC Heritage Could Be a Sign of Things to Come

When Brooks Koepka returned to the PGA TOUR, he did so with an understanding that he would have to earn his keep. Nothing was going to be handed to him, and if he wanted to play in the circuit’s biggest events, he was going to have to work his way into those fields.

Despite some good finishes in his first few months back, Koepka has yet to play in a Signature event. That said, he’s been on property at Harbour Town Golf Links for this week’s RBC Heritage, waiting for a spot. He’s the first alternate, meaning if someone pulls out before Thursday tee times are over, he’s in.

During the morning wave, cameras caught Koepka chilling at the clubhouse, coffee in hand. For him, it was an early morning. I’m sure he’s been there since the wee hours, waiting for someone to WD—even if it was someone in the first group out.

To most, this seems like a nothing-burger—just a guy waiting for a tee time. But with everything going on with LIV Golf right now, it’s also a glimpse into what could be when (or if) names like Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau come back to the TOUR.

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Those two players, along with Cameron Smith, were offered the same road back as Koepka—but they didn’t take it. Now, with LIV’s death seemingly inevitable, you have to think Rahm and DeChambeau will be itching to get back—well, maybe Bryson will go the full-time YouTuber route.

If they do in fact find their way back to the TOUR, their fate is going to look a lot like Koepka’s. Brian Rolapp and his team will no doubt find a path for them to come back, but they’re going to have to fight for their spot at the most lucrative tournaments.

Koepka has handled the process with nothing but class—now the question is: would Rahm and DeChambeau do the same?