First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh wants to compete again, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially opted out of the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will remain connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time. This was a friendly agreement, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s statement. However, Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level challenges, which LIV did not fully provide. Initially switching to LIV in 2022 due to injury concerns, Koepka sought a solid retirement payout. Hence, skipping the last contractual season was unsurprising, though questions remain regarding possible buyouts or repayment of guaranteed salary. He also remains the owner of the LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculations abound about which fairways Koepka will appear on next: DP World Tour, where he could likely play immediately, possibly with a penalty? Or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension since his last LIV event after previous life bans were reduced. A return to the PGA Tour appears likely; ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his 2022-terminated PGA Tour membership.
Any suspension would expire in August, aligning with the end of the 2026 season after the Tour Championship. Koepka would be eligible for the 2027 season, coinciding with the PGA Tour’s new compressed schedule featuring approximately two dozen $20 million events with limited, high-profile fields. This timing suits Koepka’s preferences and would attract investors in PGA Tour Enterprises. Jon Rahm recently predicted on the \”Subpar\” podcast that Koepka will return to the PGA Tour, likely playing selective big events. The PGA Tour competition committee, led by Tiger Woods, along with player directors and board members, may overlook the suspension for a five-time major winner, following Rory McIlroy’s recommendation for his immediate reinstatement.
Update: It has happened: On Monday evening local time, it spread quickly that Koepka is immediately eligible to play on the PGA Tour, starting with the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines. His participation at the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale is also confirmed.
The \”Returning Member Program,\” created last Thursday, allows select LIV players to rejoin the PGA Tour without suspension. Koepka’s sporting merit, especially his 2023 PGA Championship victory as his fifth major, was considered. The PGA Tour states this special rule applies to major and Players winners over the past three years, with a deadline of February 2. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp emphasized this is a one-time opportunity with no guarantee for future cases, a significant point for Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith, and causing unease within LIV Golf.