First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh aiming for a comeback, Charley Hull to launch a YouTube channel 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season, starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. While Koepka is known as a competitor who thrives on high-level contests, his motivation was limited with LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 after injuries led him to consider early retirement and secure a retirement fund. Questions remain whether he had to buy out the final contracted season or refund part of his guaranteed earnings. He remains owner of the LIV team Smash GC, with Talor Gooch as the new captain.
Speculation focuses on where Koepka will play next: The DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible, possibly with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension after his last LIV start, following softened lifetime bans by former Commissioner Jay Monahan. The key question seems partly answered: ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reports Koepka formally applied to reactivate his PGA Tour membership last Friday.
An eventual suspension would end in August, coinciding with the close of the 2026 season after the Tour Championship. Koepka would be eligible for 2027, the debut season of the PGA Tour’s condensed schedule featuring about two dozen $20 million events with limited, top-tier fields; an ideal return moment fitting Koepka’s style. PGA Tour Enterprises investors would welcome a star name like him.
\”He may 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 his favorite big tournaments. If he can qualify for or enter high-profile events, he’d play those too.\” The Tiger Woods-led competition committee and player directors may well overlook the suspension for Koepka, following Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to allow him back immediately. A majority of fans also support this, according to a non-representative \”Bunkered\” survey.
Update: \”Perhaps the five-time major winner got an exception in Ponte Vedra Beach\” – 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 at Torrey Pines at the end of January. His participation at the WM Phoenix Open in TPC Scottsdale, Arizona, is also confirmed. This is made possible by the new \”Returning Member Program,\” allowing select LIV players to regain PGA Tour membership without suspension.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Start for 2026
Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed he will compete in the 2026 LIV Golf League. His Crushers team, featuring Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri, will enter the fifth season unchanged. Interestingly, DeChambeau has not announced a general contract extension, fueling speculation about arrangements behind the scenes to retain LIV’s most marketable player after Koepka