First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh back in action, Charley Hull launching on YouTube soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time.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 reportedly agreed upon amicably, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is known as a competitor who thrives in high-level contests, something he rarely found in LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns near the end of his career and to secure a substantial retirement fund. Thus, skipping the final contractual season is unsurprising, though questions remain about possible buyouts or repayments. Despite this, he remains owner of the LIV team Smash GC, who recently appointed Talor Gooch as captain.
Speculation swirls about where Koepka will next tee off. He would be immediately eligible on the DP World Tour, possibly with a penalty, or on the PGA Tour, where he would need to serve a one-year suspension since his last LIV appearance, after former Commissioner Jay Monahan reduced lifetime bans significantly. This question appears partially answered: ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reports Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership and rejoin the players’ roster after not extending following 2022.
Any suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship. From 2027, Koepka would be eligible under the PGA Tour’s new schedule featuring nearly two dozen $20 million events with limited, top-ranked fields—the perfect time for a comeback. PGA Tour Enterprises investors would likely welcome a marquee name like Koepka.
Jon Rahm recently said on the \”Subpar\” podcast, \”He may need some time, but I think he’ll return to the PGA Tour. He might play the minimum, focusing on tournaments he likes, especially the majors. And if he qualifies for big events, he’d play those too.\” The decision on his suspension involves the board, player directors, and the competition committee led by Tiger Woods, possibly overlooking the ban following Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to reinstate Koepka immediately.
Update: Just as anticipated, news spread Monday night that Koepka is immediately eligible to play on the PGA Tour, beginning with the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines. His participation in the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale is also confirmed. This is enabled by the \”Returning Member Program,\” implemented last Thursday, allowing selected LIV players to regain PGA Tour membership without suspension. Koepka’s recent sporting achievements, especially the 2023 PGA Championship win as his fifth major, were key factors.
The PGA Tour states this special rule applies to major and Players champions from the last three years, ending February 2. CEO Brian Rolapp clarified this is a one-time defined opportunity, not setting a precedent, and future availability