First start at the Farmers, Vijay Singh ready to compete again, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner stays connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time. This was a friendly agreement, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is a competitive player who thrives under high-level competition, which he only somewhat found at LIV. He joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns about ending his career and to secure a solid retirement fund. Given this, his skipping the final contractual playing season is not surprising, though questions remain about financial arrangements and ownership of his LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation is rife about which tour Koepka will next appear on. He could play immediately on the DP World Tour, possibly with a penalty, or return to the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension following his last LIV event after former Commissioner Jay Monahan reduced lifetime bans significantly. Why hold grudges when every LIV returnee plays into the PGA Tour’s hands? According to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership and rejoin the players’ circle after 2022.
Any suspension would end in August, coinciding with the close of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship from August 27-30. Koepka would be eligible for 2027, aligning with PGA Tour’s new schedule featuring about two dozen $20 million events with limited fields, perfect for his comeback. PGA Tour Enterprises investors would welcome such a marquee name.
Jon Rahm recently told the podcast ‘Subpar’: ‘He might need some time, but I think he will return to the PGA Tour. He’ll likely play at least the minimum, and why not the big tournaments he likes? If he qualifies or is invited to top events, he’d play those too.’ Moreover, the PGA Tour’s board, player directors, and Tiger Woods-led competition committee might waive the suspension for the five-time major winner, following Rory McIlroy’s public support for Koepka’s immediate return.
Update: That’s exactly what happened. On Monday evening, news spread rapidly that Koepka is immediately eligible for the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in late January. His participation at the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, Arizona, is also confirmed.
This was enabled by the newly created ‘Returning Member Program’ allowing select LIV players to rejoin the PGA Tour without suspension. Koepka’s recent sporting merits, especially his 2023 PGA Championship win as his fifth major, were key.
The PGA Tour states this special rule applies only to major and Players winners from the last three years. The deadline is February 2. CEO Brian Rolapp comments this is a one-time opportunity with no guarantee it will reoccur. This might cause reflection among Jon Rahm, Bryson