First start at the Farmers, Vijay Singh wants another shot, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the LIV Golf League for the 2026 season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner stays connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for family. This was reportedly agreed upon amicably, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on top-level challenges, something he was less motivated by at LIV. He switched to LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns towards the end of his career and to secure a substantial retirement fund. Thus, his skipping the last contracted season is unsurprising, although questions remain about whether he had to pay any buyout or repay part of his guaranteed salary. He remains owner of his LIV team Smash GC, with Talor Gooch named the new captain.
Speculations about where Koepka will play next are abound. The DP World Tour would grant him immediate playing rights, possibly with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension since his last LIV appearance after former Commissioner Jay Monahan softened previously lifetime bans. Why hold grudges when returning LIV players benefit the PGA Tour, now holding more leverage? ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022, seeking reinstatement to the player pool.
See this post on Instagram
His suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship from August 27-30. Koepka would be eligible for the 2027 season under the PGA Tour’s new condensed schedule featuring about two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited elite fields — a perfect time for his comeback. PGA Tour Enterprises investors would likely welcome another marquee name.
\”He might need some time, but I think he will return to the PGA Tour,\” said Jon Rahm recently on the \”Subpar\” podcast. \”He’ll probably play at least the minimum, and why not the big events he likes? If he qualifies or gets invited to high-profile events, he’ll play those.\” The PGA Tour’s board, player directors, and the competition committee led by Tiger Woods who have say on suspensions may well grant leniency for a five-time major winner, backed by Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to allow Koepka to compete immediately. Fans mostly agree, according to a non-representative poll by the magazine \”Bunkered.\”
Update: \”And perhaps a five-time major champion will get a break in Ponte Vedra Beach\” — exactly that happened. News spread quickly that Koepka is immediately eligible to compete on the PGA Tour, with confirmed starts at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines and the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona. This was enabled by a newly introduced \