First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh wants to give it another go, Charley Hull to launch YouTube channel soon. The Back Nine.
Expected: Brooks Koepka has officially opted out of 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 reportedly agreed amicably, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. However, Koepka is known as a competitor who thrives in high-level tournaments, something he found limited in LIV. He joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns and the opportunity for a solid retirement fund. Skipping the final contractual season is unsurprising though some questions remain, such as whether he had to forfeit part of his guaranteed salary. He remains owner of LIV team Smash GC, which named Talor Gooch as the new captain.
Speculation is rampant about where Koepka will compete next—on the DP World Tour where he would be immediately eligible, likely with a penalty, or on the PGA Tour where he faces a one-year suspension following his last LIV event, after former Commissioner Jay Monahan softened lifetime bans considerably. This key question seems partly answered. According to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which he did not renew after 2022.
Any suspension would end in August, coinciding with the 2026 season finale at the Tour Championship. Koepka would be eligible to play in 2027 under the PGA Tour’s new schedule featuring around two dozen $20 million events with limited fields. This timing suits Koepka’s comeback plan and would be welcomed by PGA Tour Enterprises investors. Jon Rahm recently said on the ‘Subpar’ podcast that Koepka might need time but is expected to return to the PGA Tour, playing selected tournaments, especially majors. With input from the board, player directors, and the Tiger Woods-led competition committee, this aligns with Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to reinstate Koepka immediately.
Update: Koepka’s reinstatement was confirmed Monday evening; he is immediately eligible and will compete at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines and the WM Phoenix Open in Arizona.
The ‘Returning Member Program’ introduced recently allows certain LIV players to rejoin the PGA Tour without suspension, considering Koepka’s recent sporting merits, especially his 2023 PGA Championship win.
PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp stated this is a unique, clearly defined opportunity expiring February 2, not setting precedent. This development likely unsettles Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith and causes unease at LIV Golf.
Koepka’s penalty for joining LIV is relatively light: a $5 million donation to PGA Tour charity and exclusion from the 2026 FedEx Cup bonus and five years from PGA Tour’s capital participation program linked to