First start at the Farmers, Vijay Singh wants to give it another go, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
Expected: Brooks Koepka has officially opted out of the 2026 LIV Golf season starting on February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion stays connected to the competing circuit but needs more time for his family. This was amicably agreed upon, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. But Koepka is a competitor who thrives in high-level sporting battles, something he only partially found in LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 mainly because he feared his career was ending due to injury and sought a solid retirement fund. Thus, skipping the last contracted season isn’t surprising, though questions remain: did he have to buy out, repay part of his guarantee? Does he remain owner of his LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch?
Speculation is rife about where Koepka will play next. The DP World Tour would allow him immediate eligibility, likely with a penalty? Or the PGA Tour, where he served a one-year suspension after his last LIV appearance, following the former Commissioner Jay Monahan’s softened lifetime bans? Why be vengeful when reinstating notable LIV returnees benefits the financially stronger Tour? This question appears partly answered. ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reports Koepka formally filed last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership after not renewing post-2022 and to rejoin the players’ ranks.
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His suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the 2026 season’s end at the Tour Championship (Aug 27-30). Koepka would be eligible for 2027 under the PGA Tour’s new schedule compressing nearly two dozen $20 million events with top-tier, limited fields – a perfect timing for his comeback, fitting his style. PGA Tour Enterprises investors would surely welcome such a marquee name.
Jon Rahm even recently said in the \”Subpar\” podcast, \”He might need some time, but I think he will return to the PGA Tour. He’ll probably play at least the minimum and why not the tournaments he likes, the big ones. If he qualifies for high-profile events or gets in, he would play those too.\” Perhaps the PGA Tour will be lenient with the five-time major winner – the governing board, player directors, and the Tiger Woods-led competition committee have influence and could follow Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to reinstate Koepka immediately. Majority of fans seem to agree, as \”Bunkered\” magazine found in an informal poll.
Update: The prediction proved true. News spread rapidly that Koepka is immediately eligible to play on the PGA Tour, starting at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines. His participation in the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale is also confirmed. This was enabled by a new