First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh returning to compete, Charley Hull soon launching on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially opted out of the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains connected to the competing circuit but requires more family time. This was reportedly agreed upon amicably, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. However, Koepka is known as a competitive type who gets fired up only during top-level conflicts, something LIV hasn’t fully ignited in him. He switched to LIV in 2022 primarily because injury had him fearing the end of his career and he wanted to secure a solid retirement fund. Thus, his decision to skip the final contracted season is unsurprising, although questions linger: Did he buy out his contract or repay part of the guaranteed money? Does the 35-year-old remain an owner of his LIV team Smash GC, which has appointed Talor Gooch as its new captain?
Speculations abound about which fairways Koepka will appear on next. The DP World Tour would grant him immediate eligibility, possibly with a penalty? Or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension after his last LIV appearance—though previous life bans by former commissioner Jay Monahan have been significantly softened? Why harbor resentment when every LIV returnee, especially a prominent one, benefits the already dominant PGA Tour? This key question seems partially answered. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported that last Friday Koepka formally applied to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022, to rejoin the playing field.
Any suspension would expire in August. While the 2026 season concludes with the Tour Championship from August 27 to 30, Koepka would be eligible to play in 2027 once the PGA Tour launches its compressed schedule of nearly two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited, top-ranked fields—the perfect timing for Koepka’s comeback. PGA Tour Enterprises’ investors, likely operators of this premier league, would surely welcome such a 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, I think, and why not the events he likes, the big ones. If he qualifies for high-profile events or can enter by invitation, he’ll play those too.\” And who knows? The PGA Tour might be lenient with a five-time major winner—besides the board, player directors and the competition committee led by Tiger Woods hold say on suspensions, following Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to allow Koepka to play immediately.
Update: As it happened, news spread swiftly Monday evening local time 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