Brooks Koepka’s return to the PGA Tour from LIV Golf continues to get divisive comments from the golf world. Amid the chatter, Shane Lowry has reiterated his stance of being welcoming of the ex-LIV star.

Lowry, speaking after his TGL side The Bay Golf Club’s loss against Rory McIlroy’s Boston Common Golf, called ‘fair play’ to Koepka for being the first player to leave the Saudi-backed series and move back to the PGA Tour. The Irish golfer stated that the move is ‘going to be good for certain tournaments’ as the five-time major champion tees up at tournaments “that not many big-name players are going to play.” He also acknowledged his Ryder Cup rival reaching an agreement with the circuit regarding a penalty.

For the unversed, Koepka left LIV Golf on December 23rd and was reinstated by the PGA Tour just a couple of weeks later after the player agreed to penalties which include paying $5 million.

Speaking at TGL on Monday, Shane Lowry said, as quoted by ASAP Sports:

“I think it’s good for him that he (Brooks Koepka) is back. I think it’s going to be good for certain tournaments that he’s back. He’s going to play tournaments maybe on the PGA Tour this year that not many big-name players are going to play, which is good…

As regards the penalties, I’m not going to stand here and say, he should pay 5 million or 10 million or whatever it is. I think he came to an agreement with the Tour and he came to an agreement with LIV to leave, and I think it’s good for him that he’s back. It’s good for him; he’s done what he’s wanted to do, and he feels like that’s the right decision for him and his family. Fair play to him for being the first one to do that.”

Shane Lowry’s initial reaction to Brooks Koepka’s move

Lowry’s latest comments on Koepka comes two weeks after he gave his initial reaction in Dubai. Speaking ahead of the Dubai Invitational at Dubai Creek Resort, UAE, the European star said the nine-time PGA Tour winner’s return is good for the circuit. The former Player Advisory Council (PAC) member also added that he was worried with the tour for the events that followed LIV Golf’s inception.

Shane Lowry told Golf Digest Middle East in early January:

“I met Brooks (Koepka) the other day. I was practicing at home and he was there. He didn’t give much away, but I kind of got it from him.I knew he was coming and like, I’ve thought about it over the last few days. It’s not that I don’t care, but like about three or four years ago when all this started kicking off, I spent a year on the PAC (Player Advisory Council) on the PGA Tour sort of worrying about what everyone was doing.

About you know 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… I think it’s great for Brooks that he’s back on the PGA Tour. I think the fact that he was able to get back so quickly is obviously good for him and you know the smaller events on the PGA Tour that he plays in you know will benefit from that… So yeah, maybe it is good for the PGA Tour.”

It is pertinent to note that Lowry’s strong comments came after his colleagues like Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods openly welcomed Koepka’s return from LIV Golf.

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