First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager to compete again, Charley Hull launching on YouTube soon. The Back Nine.
Expected: Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for family. This amicable agreement was stated by LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level contest, something he found limited at LIV. He joined LIV in 2022 primarily due to injury concerns and to secure a solid retirement fund. His decision not to play his final contracted season raises questions about possible buyouts or repayments. He remains the owner of LIV team Smash GC, which has appointed Talor Gooch as the new captain.
Speculation now centers on where Koepka will next compete. The DP World Tour would grant immediate eligibility, likely with a penalty, or the PGA Tour where he faces a one-year ban after his last LIV appearance. However, former Commissioner Jay Monahan’s lifetime bans were softened, allowing returnees like Koepka a pathway. According to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which had not been extended after 2022.
A possible ban would expire in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 PGA Tour season at the Tour Championship August 27-30. That would make Koepka eligible for the 2027 season featuring a revamped schedule with limited elite event fields, an ideal time for his comeback. Investors in PGA Tour Enterprises would welcome a star of his caliber. Jon Rahm recently opined on the Subpar podcast that Koepka will return and likely play a minimum schedule focusing on major events, especially with endorsements from Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods’ competition committee potentially easing his suspension.
Update: It happened as expected. On Monday evening local time, news spread rapidly that Koepka is immediately eligible to play on 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 enabled by the newly created ‘Returning Member Program’ allowing select LIV players to rejoin the PGA Tour without penalty, recognizing Koepka’s recent sporting achievements including the 2023 PGA Championship. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp stated this exception is a one-time defined opportunity, expiring February 2, not setting a precedent. This likely causes unease for other LIV players such as Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith.
Koepka’s penalty for defecting to LIV is mild: a $5 million charity donation, exclusion from the 2026 FedEx Cup bonus and five years from the PGA Tour’s equity program.
DeChambeau Confirms 2026 LIV Golf Return
Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau has officially confirmed his participation in the 2026 LIV Golf League season. His Crushers team with Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri continues unchanged into the fifth season. However