First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh returns, and Charley Hull heads to YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the LIV Golf League for the 2026 season starting February 7 in Riyadh. The five-time major winner will remain associated with the competing circuit but needs more time for his family, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. However, there is speculation surrounding Koepka’s competitive future, as he is a highly motivated competitor who thrives in top-level competition — something he arguably lacked in LIV events. Koepka initially joined LIV in 2022 due to injury concerns and to secure his retirement fund, so skipping the last contract year is not surprising, though questions about financial settlements remain. He remains the owner of LIV team Smash GC, which recently appointed Talor Gooch as captain.
There is much speculation about which tours Koepka will join next. He is immediately eligible to play on the DP World Tour — possibly with a penalty fee — or return to the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension after his last LIV appearance, reduced from a lifetime ban by former commissioner Jay Monahan. Why be vindictive when every returning LIV player, especially a high-profile one like Koepka, strengthens the longer-established tour? According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which had not been renewed after 2022.
An eventual suspension would end in August, coinciding with the close of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship from August 27 to 30. Koepka would be eligible for 2027, aligning with the PGA Tour’s new schedule featuring nearly two dozen $20 million events with limited top fields — a perfect timing for his comeback. Even investors in PGA Tour Enterprises would welcome such a marquee name. Jon Rahm recently expressed confidence in Koepka’s return on the podcast \”Subpar,\” suggesting he might play a minimum schedule focusing on his preferred big events. The PGA Tour’s board, player directors, and the competition committee, led by Tiger Woods, could potentially waive penalties, following Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to reinstate Koepka promptly.
Update: It happened: On Monday evening local time, news spread rapidly that Koepka is immediately eligible for the PGA Tour and is scheduled to tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines at the end of January. His participation in the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona is already confirmed. This was made possible by a new rule enacted last Thursday, the \”Returning Member Program,\” allowing selected LIV players to regain PGA Tour membership without suspension, considering Koepka’s recent athletic merits, notably his 2023 PGA Championship victory as his fifth major.
The PGA Tour stated this special provision applies only to major and Players Championship winners from the past three years, ending February 2. \”This is a unique, clearly defined opportunity and does not set a precedent for future cases,\” said PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp. This development likely causes concern among players like Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cameron Smith within LIV