First start at the Farmers Tournament, Vijay Singh returns, Charley Hull launches YouTube channel. The Back Nine.
Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting on February 7 in Riyadh, choosing instead to remain connected to competing circuits while prioritizing family time. LIV CEO Scott McNeil confirmed the amicable agreement, though speculation surrounds Koepka’s future tournament appearances. Known as a competitor driven by top-level contests, Koepka’s motivation at LIV was limited. Having joined LIV in 2022 primarily for financial security amid injury concerns, his skip of the contractually obligated final season raises questions about buyouts and his ownership status of Smash GC, the LIV team now captained by Talor Gooch.
Rumors arise whether Koepka will soon compete on the DP World Tour, where he holds immediate eligibility likely subject to penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension from LIV participation. The former life bans imposed by ex-Commissioner Jay Monahan have been significantly eased, reflecting the PGA Tour’s pragmatic approach welcoming LIV returnees with high profiles. According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied to reactivate his PGA Tour membership last Friday.
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The suspension would end in August, coinciding with the close of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship. Koepka would then be eligible for the PGA Tour’s revamped 2027 schedule featuring nearly two dozen $20-million tournaments with limited fields, ideal for a comeback. Investors in PGA Tour Enterprises would welcome such a marquee addition. Jon Rahm recently expressed confidence on the ‘Subpar’ podcast that Koepka will return, likely playing a minimum schedule including his favored major events, with leniency anticipated from PGA Tour authorities including the Tiger Woods-led competition committee, following Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to reinstate Koepka immediately.
Update: Koepka’s immediate reinstatement on the PGA Tour was announced Monday evening. He is set to compete at the Farmers Insurance Open late January and will also play the WM Phoenix Open.
This was enabled by the recently created ‘Returning Member Program’ allowing select LIV players to regain PGA Tour membership without suspension, considering Koepka’s recent major victories including the 2023 PGA Championship.
The PGA Tour states this special provision applies to major and Players champions from the past three years and expires February 2. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp called it a unique opportunity without precedent or guarantee for the future.
Koepka’s penalty is mild: a $5 million charity donation, exclusion from the 2026 FedEx Cup bonuses, and a five-year ban from PGA Tour capital input programs tied to investors.
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