Promotions notebook: Chase Koepka aims to earn his way back to LIV Golf

The last two years have been difficult for injury-plagued Chase Koepka, but he enters Thursday’s first round at LIV Golf Promotions determined to earn a spot back onto the League.

An original LIV Golf player as part of the inaugural tournament in London in 2022, Koepka suffered relegation from the league after the 2023 season. Things got even harder from there. A serious nerve damage issue kept him off the course for most of 2024. The injury was accompanied by constant pain and sleepless nights, impacting his golf swing in the process.

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“The nerve damage was just causing me a lot of problems,” said Koepka during his pre-tournament press conference Wednesday at Black Diamond Ranch. “I wasn't sleeping very well. When you're not sleeping very well, there is not a whole a lot else going on. Just kept bothering my shoulder, so I needed to get that fixed. It was just a long, drawn-out process. It was hard to even figure out what that problem was. I knew my shoulder wasn't in a very good spot there for a while, and a lot of doctors took a look and were like, we don't know what this other pain is.”

After the lengthy recovery, Koepka found immediate success on the Asian Tour in 2025, finishing T8 at the International Series India in just his second start back at what he called "one of the probably hardest golf courses in the world."

His body stood up to a demanding run of events toward the end of the year, as well. He closed the Asian Tour season with a T9 finish at the Saudi Open presented by PIF.

"Ball-striking feels good; the body held up," he said, though he admitted his putting still needs work. "It was nice to see everything held up and started playing better the longer I was out there."

This week, he has his eyes on one of the three open spots that would get him back in the league. The University of South Florida graduate has great memories of winning conference titles in the area and even caddying for his brother Brooks during U.S. Open qualifying. "A lot of happy drives out of this place," he said. "It's in really good shape. Greens are kind of speeding up. You can make a lot of putts out here if you're hitting greens." 

Anthony Kim continues to make progress

When Anthony Kim first returned to professional golf after a 12-year absence, he didn’t know what to expect. After two years practicing consistently and playing in LIV Golf and Asian Tour events, his game is in a much different place.

“I think the first year I was just trying not to shank the ball,” he acknowledged Wednesday. “Obviously was a few months into golf before I really started getting to play my first event. So, expectations weren't high, even though I know what I'm capable of. I think after two years of practicing and playing competitive golf I've started to find my footing. I think whether it's this week or next year, it'll show.”

Kim produced the best result since his comeback late last year at the PIF Saudi International presented by Softbank Investment Advisers, finishing tied for fifth. He played as a wild card player on LIV Golf the last two years and would return to that status if he finishes among the top three this week.

The LIV Golf Promotions format requires players to be on their game for the duration of the event, but Kim – one of 18 players who are exempt into Friday’s Round 2 – is used to playing under pressure.

“I think after some of my life experience over the last 20 years I don't think there is as much pressure as I would've felt before I went through those things. Obviously, you have to play well. There is some pressure that you have to make a lot of birdies in the 36 holes you're playing.” 

From event volunteer to LIV Golf hopeful 

In 2023, Charlie Forster was a volunteer at Centurion Club for LIV Golf London. Now, he will be one of 78 players looking to become a full-time LIV Golf players in 2026.

“I was on the 18th green just holding up the ‘Be Quiet’ signs,” Forster recalled. “It was awesome just seeing those guys out there … If it wasn't because of LIV, I may not be able to tee up with some of the names just with how the career was sort of playing out. It's cool to have the opportunity to potentially be able to tee up with them.”

Back then, the Winchester, England native didn’t expect to find himself with the opportunity to play on LIV Golf, but he’s ready now. He qualified for this week’s tournament as a member of the Great Britain & Ireland Walker Cup team. And he’s shown his match play mettle by beating Josele Ballester – now a member of Fireballs GC – in the 2024 Amateur Championship.

"A lot has happened in the last couple years,” Forster said. “Now I can definitely sort of envision myself there now. It was always a dream to be competing against those players and now having a chance to win one of those events too is really cool.”

West Point grad eyes global competition 

While the three top players this week earn a spot on LIV Golf for 2026, it mustn't go overlooked that the top 10 will earn entry into the Asian Tour’s International Series. With the Asian Tour rapidly growing and becoming one of the better tours in the world, plenty of the LIV Golf Promotions field will be gunning for a spot in the top 10.

"Getting into those IS events would also be a great opportunity,” Marcus Plunkett said. “Those are great events and have some very high caliber world class players. Being able to compete in those guaranteed would be tremendous as well.”

The 31-year-old American has a unique background as a U.S. Army veteran and West Point graduate (Class of 2016) who’s looking to grab hold of the opportunity to travel the world to play professional golf on the International Series.

“I feel like from a player's perspective it's really cool being blessed with the opportunity to travel,” Plunkett said, “and to see different parts of the country and compete on a global level is really exciting from a player's end.”