First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh back in action, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting on February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains connected to the competing circuit but needs more time for his family. This was mutually agreed upon, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, something he found limited at LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 due to injury concerns about his career ending and to secure a substantial retirement fund. Thus, his waiver of the last contracted season is not surprising, although questions remain about potential buyouts or partial refund of guaranteed payments. He remains owner of his LIV team Smash GC, which has appointed Talor Gooch as the new captain.
Speculation is rife about which fairways Koepka will play on next. He is immediately eligible to play on the DP World Tour—possibly with a penalty—but he faces a one-year suspension on the PGA Tour due to his last LIV participation, as the former life bans by ex-Commissioner Jay Monahan have been significantly softened. Given the advantages for the PGA Tour welcoming returning LIV players, the crucial question appears partly answered. According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which had not been renewed after 2022.
A possible suspension would end in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship from August 27-30. Koepka would be eligible to play in 2027 under the PGA Tour’s upcoming schedule of nearly two dozen $20 million tournaments, featuring limited and elite fields. This timing is ideal for his return, aligning perfectly with his competitive nature and benefiting investors in PGA Tour Enterprises, the likely host of the new top league.
\”He may need some time, but I think he will return to the PGA Tour,\” recently said Jon Rahm on the \”Subpar\” podcast. \”He’ll probably play at least the minimum and why not the tournaments he likes, the big ones. If he qualifies or is invited to high-profile events, he will play those too.\” It is possible the PGA Tour’s leadership and player directors, including the Tiger Woods-led competition committee, may grant leniency on Koepka’s suspension, influenced by Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to allow Koepka to play