First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh also eager to return, Charley Hull soon 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 winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka, a highly competitive athlete who thrives on top-level contests, had only limited motivation in LIV Golf. His 2022 move to the Saudi-backed league was largely driven by injury concerns and the desire to secure a solid retirement fund. Given this, his decision to forgo the final contracted season raises questions: Did he have to buy out part of his guaranteed salary? Will he remain an owner of the LIV Smash GC team, now captained by Talor Gooch?
Speculation abounds about which fairways Koepka will next play on — the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible but likely face a penalty? Or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension following his last LIV appearance after previous lifetime bans were significantly softened? Such a ban would expire in August 2026. However, Koepka would be eligible for the 2027 season, which introduces a condensed schedule featuring nearly two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited, top-tier fields — an ideal reentry point according to Koepka’s preferences. This would also be well received by investors behind PGA Tour Enterprises, which backs this new elite league.
ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach confirmed that Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022, to rejoin the player pool.
Update: It has happened. News spread rapidly Monday evening local time that Koepka is immediately eligible to play on the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in late January. Participation at the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale is also confirmed.
This became possible through a new rule called the \”Returning Member Program\”, established last Thursday, which permits select LIV players to regain PGA Tour membership without suspension. Koepka’s sporting merits were specifically acknowledged, especially his 2023 PGA Championship win, his fifth major.
The PGA Tour states this special regulation applies to major winners and Players champions from the past three years, ending February 2. \”This is a one-time, clearly defined opportunity and does not set a precedent for future cases,\” said PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp. This likely concerns players like Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith and causes unease in the LIV Golf League.
Koepka’s penalty for switching to LIV was mild: a $5 million donation to the PGA Tour charity fund, exclusion from the 2026 FedEx Cup bonus system, and a five-year ban from the PGA Tour’s capital participation program tied to PGA Tour Enterprises investors.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Participation for 2026
Bryson DeChambeau has officially confirmed he will play in the