First start at the Farmers, Vijay Singh still going strong, Charley Hull launching on YouTube soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will remain connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his family. This was mutually agreed upon, according to official LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s statement. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level competition and gets fired up during top-tier events, something he found limited in LIV. He originally switched to LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns potentially ending his career and to secure a good retirement fund. Given this, his skipping the final contracted season is not surprising, though questions remain—did he buy out his contract or repay part of his guaranteed earnings? Does he still own his LIV team Smash GC, which has named Talor Gooch the new captain?
Speculation now focuses on where Koepka will appear next. He would be immediately eligible for the DP World Tour—likely with a penalty fee—or return to the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension from his last LIV appearance after the lifetime bans imposed by former Commissioner Jay Monahan were significantly reduced. Why be vengeful when every returning LIV player, especially a prominent one, benefits the longer-established tour? This key question seems partially answered. According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, last Friday Koepka formally applied to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, revoked after 2022, and to be reinstated in the player pool.
An eventual suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship August 27–30. Koepka would be eligible to play in 2027 when the PGA Tour introduces its new compressed schedule of about two dozen $20-million tournaments featuring limited, top-tier fields—a perfect comeback timing, fitting Koepka’s style. PGA Tour Enterprises investors backing the new top league would surely welcome another strong name.
Even Jon Rahm recently stated on the \”Subpar\” podcast, \”He might need some time, but I think he will return to the PGA Tour. He will probably play at least the minimum, and why not the big tournaments that he likes? If he qualifies for or gets invited to those top events, he would play them too.\” Moreover, perhaps the PGA Tour would overlook the suspension for a five-time major champion—besides the board, player directors and Tiger Woods-led competition committee have a say, and Rory McIlroy recommended allowing Koepka to play immediately. A majority of fans also seem to agree, according to a non-representative survey by \”Bunkered.\”
Update: \”And perhaps the PGA Tour will overlook the suspension for a five-time major champion\”—that is exactly what happened. News spread rapidly that Koepka is immediately eligible to play on the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines. His participation in the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, Arizona, is also confirmed. This became possible through a newly introduced \”Returning Member Program,\” allowing selected LIV players to reinstate their