First start at Farmers, Vijay Singh makes a comeback, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time. This was a friendly agreement, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level contests, which LIV provided less of. Having joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns and to secure good retirement money, it is no surprise he skipped the last contractual season, though questions remain about buyout or reimbursement of guaranteed salary. He remains owner of his LIV team Smash GC, with Talor Gooch as new captain.
Speculation surrounds on which tour Koepka will next appear. The DP World Tour would grant immediate playing rights, possibly with a penalty. The PGA Tour suspension from his last LIV event might have eased from a lifetime ban to a one-year suspension. Notably, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership and rejoin the playing field, per ESPN’s Mark Schlabach.
An eventual suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season. He would be eligible for 2027 under the PGA Tour’s new schedule with approximately two dozen $20-million tournaments featuring limited, top player fields—the perfect time for Koepka’s return. This is promising for PGA Tour Enterprises’ investors who would welcome such a marquee name.
Jon Rahm recently suggested on the ‘Subpar’ podcast that Koepka might ease back in, playing minimum events, especially his favored big tournaments, and potentially more if qualified. The PGA Tour’s board, player directors, and the Tiger Woods-led competition committee could grant leniency, especially following Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to immediately reinstate Koepka.
Update: It happened: Koepka is back active immediately on the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines. His participation at the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale is also set.
This is enabled by the ‘Returning Member Program’ introduced last Thursday, allowing selected LIV players to return without suspension. Koepka’s recent major success, notably the 2023 PGA Championship, played a key role.
The PGA Tour states the special rule applies to major and Players champions from the last three years and expires February 2. CEO Brian Rolapp stressed it is a one-time exception, with no guarantee for future cases. This move might cause unease in LIV while prompting thoughts from Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith.
Koepka’s penalty for leaving LIV is mild: a $5 million donation to PGA Tour charities, exclusion from the 2026 FedEx Cup bonus pool, and five years without equity participation in PGA Tour Enterprises.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Golf Return for 2026
Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed his participation in the 2026 LIV Golf season