First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager for more, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will remain connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his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 has been mutually agreed upon, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is a competitor who thrives in top-level competition, something he found limited in LIV. He joined LIV in 2022 primarily due to injury concerns and to secure a comfortable retirement fund. Hence, skipping the final contract year is not surprising, though questions remain about possible buyouts or repayments. Koepka, 35, still owns his LIV team Smash GC, with Talor Gooch now captain.
Speculation revolves around where Koepka will next compete. The DP World Tour grants immediate playing rights, possibly with penalties, or the PGA Tour where he has served a one-year suspension since his last LIV event, after previously lifetime bans were softened. This question appears partially answered: ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reports Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership and be reinstated among the players.
Any suspension would end in August, coinciding with the close of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship from August 27-30. Koepka would be eligible for 2027, when the PGA Tour introduces a new schedule with around two dozen $20 million tournaments and limited fields. The perfect timing for a comeback, fitting Koepka’s competitive style. Investors at PGA Tour Enterprises, likely the new top league’s backers, would welcome such a high-profile addition.
“He might need some time but I think he will return to the PGA Tour,” recently said Jon Rahm on the podcast “Subpar”. “He would probably at least play minimum events, maybe the ones he likes, the big ones. If he can qualify or be invited to top events, he would play those too.” Possibly, the PGA Tour will waive the suspension for the five-time major, influenced by the board, player directors, and Tiger Woods-led competition committee, and following Rory McIlroy’s endorsement to allow Koepka immediate play. A majority of fans seem to agree, according to a non-representative poll by “Bunkered” magazine.
Update: “And perhaps the PGA Tour will cut some slack for the five-time major winner” – this has happened. News spread rapidly that Koepka is immediately eligible to compete 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 in Arizona is also confirmed.
This became possible through a newly introduced \”Returning Member Program\” that allows select LIV players to resume PGA Tour membership without suspension.