First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager for more, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf League season starting February 7 in Riyadh. The five-time major champion will remain connected to the competing circuit but needs more time for his family, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is known as a competitor who thrives on high-level challenges, something he found limited in LIV. He originally joined LIV in 2022 partly due to injuries and to secure his retirement fund. Questions remain whether he had to buy out his contract or return part of the guaranteed salary, and if he remains an owner of LIV team Smash GC, which recently appointed Talor Gooch as captain.
Speculation now focuses on where Koepka will next play. He would be immediately eligible for the DP World Tour, possibly with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension after his last LIV appearance. The lifetime bans imposed by former Commissioner Jay Monahan have been softened, allowing high-profile LIV returnees like Koepka a path back. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported Koepka formally requested to reactivate his PGA Tour membership last Friday.
His suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship. Koepka would be eligible for the 2027 season featuring nearly two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited fields, an ideal comeback timing. PGA Tour Enterprises investors would likely welcome such a marketable name.
Jon Rahm recently expressed on the podcast \”Subpar\” his belief Koepka will return, likely playing the minimum required and focusing on major events. The PGA Tour’s board, player directors, and Tiger Woods-led competition committee may grant exceptions, following Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to allow Koepka’s return.
Update: Koepka has been reinstated immediately to the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines. He is also confirmed for the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona. This was made possible by the newly created \”Returning Member Program,\” which allows selected LIV players to rejoin the PGA Tour without suspension. Koepka’s recent achievements, including the 2023 PGA Championship, were key factors.
The PGA Tour stated this special measure is available exclusively to major winners and Players Championship winners from the past three years, ending on February 2. CEO Brian Rolapp noted this is a one-time opportunity, not setting a precedent. It puts pressure on other LIV players like Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith, and causes unease within the LIV Golf League.
Koepka’s penalty for joining LIV is mild: a $5 million donation to PGA Tour charities, exclusion from 2026 FedEx Cup bonuses, and a five-year ban from PGA Tour capital participation programs.
DeChambeau Confirms 2026 LIV Golf Season Participation
Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed he will compete in the LIV Golf League in 2026