Staff WriterChase Koepka is gunning for a LIV Golf return — and this time, he’s armed with health, form, and a chip on his shoulder in the best possible way.
The American, who once teed it up alongside his brother Brooks in Smash GC colours, has battled his way back from major shoulder surgery that sidelined him for much of 2023.
Now fit again, Chase Koepka is starting to look like the player who once carried serious momentum on the global stage.
Koepka currently sits 43rd on The International Series Rankings, thanks to a string of steady performances — including a T8 finish at the International Series India, T19 in Macau, and T12 in the Philippines. It’s not headline-grabbing stuff yet, but it’s the kind of consistency that builds confidence and earns invitations.
With several LIV Golf regulars ranked ahead of him, Koepka looks almost certain to feature in the upcoming LIV Golf Promotions event — a second chance to reclaim his spot among the game’s elite. But he’s thinking bigger.
“For me, the nice thing about the Promotions event is that it’s in Florida — it’s a home event,” Koepka said. “I haven’t been able to play it for the last two years because of injury, so it would be great to have that opportunity. Good golf takes care of itself.”
There’s also a chance he might not need Promotions at all.
“You never know — if you get into Saudi (the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers) and play well, you might not even need to go through the Promotions event,” he added. “My first goal is to play well this week, try to get into the Saudi International, and go from there. Hopefully I won’t have to go through Promotions at all.”
It’s a simple plan — play well, stay healthy, and let the results do the talking.
Shoulder Rebuilt, Confidence Restored
Koepka’s comeback has been methodical rather than miraculous. After years of managing pain, his rebuilt shoulder has given him the confidence to swing freely again — something that’s showing up in the stats and on the scorecard.
Teeing off in the opening group of the Moutai Singapore Open alongside Yosuke Asaji and Steve Lewton, Chase Koepka came out firing with seven birdies in his first eight holes, surging up the leaderboard early.
Birdies at two, six, and seven put him within striking distance of leaders James Piot, Jeunghun Wang, and Soomin Lee, while his playing partner Asaji stayed close behind.
“We just didn’t make any,” Koepka said of his and Lewton’s putting. “Between the two of us, there were plenty of chances where we looked at each other, scratching our heads, wondering how we missed.
The greens are good, just tricky to read. I’m playing really good golf — hitting fairways and greens — so it’s a bit disappointing to only be 11-under through three rounds, but hopefully tomorrow’s my day.”
If there’s frustration in his tone, it’s only because the pieces are clearly there. The ball-striking is back. The rhythm is back. Now, it’s just about converting opportunities when they come.
The Road Back to LIV
Koepka’s motivation isn’t just to return — it’s to prove he belongs.
“It has been up and down,” he admitted. “I’ve played some solid weeks, but I haven’t quite put myself in contention to win. It’s not that I’m playing badly — just not well enough to be up there with a chance on Sunday. That’s the next step for me.”
That next step could come soon. With momentum building and his body finally cooperating, Chase Koepka looks poised to make a proper run at rejoining the LIV Golf circuit — not as Brooks’ younger brother, but as a player in his own right.
After two lost years, that might be his biggest victory yet.
