First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh returns, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will remain connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for family. This was amicably agreed upon, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is known as a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, something he lacked at LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 due to injury concerns, seeking a secure retirement fund. So skipping the final contractual season isn’t surprising, though questions remain about buyouts or returning part of his guaranteed salary. Koepka still owns his LIV team Smash GC, which recently appointed Talor Gooch as captain.
Speculation mounts on where Koepka will play next. He is immediately eligible for the DP World Tour, possibly with a penalty, or he could return to the PGA Tour after serving a one-year suspension following his last LIV event, now softened from a lifetime ban. According to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reinstate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022.
An eventual suspension would end in August, coinciding with the 2026 season finale at the Tour Championship. Koepka would then be eligible for the 2027 season featuring the PGA Tour’s compressed schedule of nearly two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited elite fields. This timing suits Koepka, and his return would please investors behind PGA Tour Enterprises, the new top-tier league’s backers.
Jon Rahm recently expressed optimism about Koepka’s return on the “Subpar” podcast, imagining Koepka playing at least the minimum events—especially the majors he favors. The PGA Tour’s board, player directors, and Tiger Woods-led competition committee have a say in the suspension and might heed Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to reinstate him.
Update: The announcement spread fast on Monday evening: Koepka is immediately eligible to compete 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 is enabled by the PGA Tour’s recently created “Returning Member Program,” allowing selected LIV players to reinstate membership without penalty. Koepka’s 2023 PGA Championship victory played a key role.
The PGA Tour states the special rule applies to major winners and Players Champions from the past three years. The deadline is February 2. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp says this is a unique, defined opportunity and not a precedent for future cases. Once closed, this path may not reopen.
Koepka’s penalty for joining LIV is mild: a $5 million donation to the PGA Tour’s charity fund, exclusion from the 2026 FedEx Cup bonus, and a five-year ban from the PGA Tour’s capital participation program tied to PGA Tour Enterprises investors.