First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh back in action, Charley Hull launching on YouTube soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially opted out of the 2026 LIV Golf season starting on February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will remain connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for family. LIV CEO Scott McNeil described this mutual agreement as amicable. Koepka is known as a competitive spirit who thrives on high-level tournaments, something he rarely found at LIV. He originally joined LIV in 2022 anticipating his career was ending due to injuries and sought a secure retirement fund. His decision to forgo the final contracted season raises questions about potential buyouts or partial refund of guarantees. It remains unclear if Koepka will continue as owner of the LIV team Smash GC, led now by captain Talor Gooch.
The speculation mainly revolves around which tour Koepka will join next. The DP World Tour could grant immediate playing privileges possibly with penalties, or the PGA Tour where he must serve a one-year suspension after his last LIV appearance, as lifetime bans imposed by former commissioner Jay Monahan were softened. The PGA Tour benefits from allowing high-profile LIV returnees, and ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach recently revealed Koepka has formally applied to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not extended beyond 2022.
The suspension could expire in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship from August 27-30. Koepka would then be eligible for the 2027 season featuring a condensed schedule of about two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited elite fields — an ideal re-entry moment for the competitive athlete. PGA Tour Enterprises investors would likely welcome the return of such a star.
Jon Rahm recently remarked on the podcast ‘Subpar’ that Koepka will take some time but is expected to return to the PGA Tour, focusing on major and favorite tournaments. The player directors and Tiger Woods-led competition committee, who have a say on suspensions, reportedly support immediate reinstatement per Rory McIlroy’s recommendation.
Update: Koepka is now immediately eligible to compete on the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in late January. He is also confirmed for the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona.
This was enabled by a new ‘Returning Member Program’ rule created last Thursday, allowing select LIV players to regain PGA Tour membership without suspension. Koepka’s recent achievements, including the 2023 PGA Championship win, were key factors.
The PGA Tour stated this rule applies to major and Players champions of the last three years, ending February 2. CEO Brian Rolapp emphasized this is a one-time, clearly defined opportunity, with no precedent for future cases.
Koepka’s penalties for joining LIV are mild: a $5 million charity donation, exclusion from the 2026 FedEx Cup