First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager for a comeback, Charley Hull launching on YouTube soon. 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for family. This was reportedly agreed upon amicably, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. However, Koepka is a competitive type who gets motivated by high-level competition, which he somewhat lacked in LIV. He switched in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns about the end of his career and to secure a good retirement fund. His skipping the final contracted season is therefore unsurprising, though questions remain if he had to buy out or return part of his guaranteed salary. At 35, he still owns the LIV team Smash GC, with Talor Gooch as the new captain.
Speculation is rife on which fairways Koepka will appear next: the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible, possibly for a penalty payment; or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension after his last LIV appearance, following softened lifetime bans previously imposed. Why be vengeful when returning LIV players with star power benefit the more influential PGA Tour? This question seems partially answered. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not extended beyond 2022.
Any suspension would end in August, coinciding with the 2026 season’s close at the Tour Championship from August 27-30. This would make Koepka eligible for 2027, when the PGA Tour will launch a condensed schedule of nearly two dozen $20 million events with limited, highly competitive fields. The perfect time for a comeback, fitting Koepka’s taste. PGA Tour Enterprises investors, likely the new top league’s owners, would welcome another compelling name.
\”He may need some time, but I think he’ll return to the PGA Tour,\” said Jon Rahm recently on the ‘Subpar’ podcast. \”He’ll probably play at least the minimum, I reckon, and why not the tournaments he likes, the big ones? If he qualifies or gets invited to high-profile events, he’ll play those too.\” Maybe the PGA Tour will be lenient towards a five-time major champion — suspension decisions involve the board, player directors, and the Tiger Woods-led competition committee, following Rory McIlroy’s advice to let Koepka play again.
Update: Just so it happened. Monday evening local time, news spread quickly that Koepka is immediately eligible to play on the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines. Participation in the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona is also confirmed.
This is made possible by the \”Returning Member Program,\” a new rule established last Thursday allowing selected LIV players to rejoin the PGA Tour without suspension. In Koepka’s case, his sporting merits, especially his 2023 PGA Championship win as fifth major, were taken into account.
The PGA Tour