First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager for more, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting on February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion will remain connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his family. This was a friendly agreement, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka, known as a competitive athlete who thrives in high-level sports contests, was only moderately motivated at LIV. Initially, he joined LIV in 2022 mainly because injury concerns led him to consider retirement and he wanted a substantial retirement fund. Thus, skipping the final contractual season is not surprising, but questions remain. Did he buy out or repay part of his guaranteed salary? Does the 35-year-old remain owner of LIV team Smash GC, which has named Talor Gooch as the new captain?
Speculation intensifies about which fairways Koepka will next appear on. He would be eligible immediately on the DP World Tour – likely with a penalty? Or on the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension from his last LIV appearance, after former commissioner Jay Monahan reduced lifetime bans significantly? Why be vindictive when every returning LIV player, especially a prominent one, benefits the PGA Tour’s leverage? ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported that last Friday, Koepka formally applied to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022, aiming to rejoin the player pool.
Update: It has happened. 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 at the end of January in Torrey Pines. His participation at the WM Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Arizona, is also confirmed.
This was made possible by the recently created \”Returning Member Program,\” allowing selected LIV players to rejoin the PGA Tour without suspension. Koepka’s sporting merits, especially his 2023 PGA Championship win as his fifth major, were considered.
The PGA Tour statement clarifies this special rule applies to major and Players Championship winners of the past three years, with the deadline on February 2. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp calls this \”a one-time, clearly defined opportunity and sets no precedent for future cases.\” This development likely influences players like Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith, causing unease within LIV Golf.
Koepka’s ‘penance’ for joining LIV is mild: he must donate $5 million to PGA Tour charities, is excluded from the 2026 FedEx Cup bonus system, and is barred for five years from the PGA Tour’s equity participation program linked to PGA Tour Enterprises investors.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Start for 2026
Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed his participation in the 2026 LIV Golf League season. His Crushers team, including Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri, remain unchanged entering the fifth season. Interestingly, DeChambeau has not announced a general contract extension, leaving room for speculation about behind-the