First tee-off at the Farmers, Vijay Singh returns to compete, Charley Hull launching on YouTube soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the LIV Golf League’s 2026 season starting on February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion will stay connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time, according to an official statement by LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka, known as a competitor who thrives in top-level competition, showed limited motivation within LIV. He originally joined LIV in 2022 mainly as he feared his career was ending due to injury and sought a substantial retirement fund. His waiver of the final contract year leaves questions: Did he buy out? Return part of his guaranteed salary? And does the 35-year-old remain owner of LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch?
Speculation grows about where Koepka will next play: immediately eligible on the DP World Tour, possibly with a penalty, or on the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension from last LIV participation after former commissioner Jay Monahan reduced lifetime bans. The PGA Tour benefits from every notable LIV returnee, and recent info from ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reveals Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership and rejoin the player pool after not renewing in 2022.
Any suspension would end in August, coinciding with the 2026 season finale at the Tour Championship from August 27-30, making 2027 the ideal comeback under PGA’s new schedule featuring nearly two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited elite fields—perfect timing for Koepka. PGA Tour Enterprises investors would surely welcome another star name.
\”He might need some time, but I think he’ll return to the PGA Tour,\” Jon Rahm said recently on the \”Subpar\” podcast. \”He’ll probably play at least the minimum, focusing on tournaments he likes, the big ones. If he qualifies or is invited to top events, he’d play those too.\” With players’ directors and the Tiger Woods-led competition committee involved, and Rory McIlroy advocating for Koepka’s immediate return, an exception may be made for the five-time major winner.
Update: It happened just like that. Monday evening local time, news spread rapidly that Koepka is immediately eligible to compete on the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open late January in Torrey Pines; his participation at the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, Arizona, is already confirmed.
This became possible through the new \”Returning Member Program,\” established last Thursday, allowing select LIV players to regain PGA membership without suspension. Koepka’s recent sporting merits, especially his 2023 PGA Championship win as his fifth major, were acknowledged.
The PGA Tour stated the special rule covers major champions and Players winners from the last three years with a deadline of February 2. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp emphasized this is a one-time opportunity, not setting a precedent for future cases. This likely concerns Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith and causes unease within LIV Golf.
Koepka’s penalty for crossing to LIV