First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh wants another go, 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting on February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion intends to remain connected to the competing circuit but needs more time with his family. This was amicably agreed upon, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka, known as a competitor who thrives under top-level competition, found limited motivation in LIV. He switched to LIV in 2022 mainly because injury threatened to end his career, enabling him to secure a solid retirement fund. Given this, his opting out of the final contracted season does not surprise, though questions remain about any buyout or guarantee repayments. He remains owner of LIV team Smash GC, which already appointed Talor Gooch as new captain.
Speculations abound about Koepka’s future fairways – possibly the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible to play, perhaps with a penalty, or the PGA Tour where he faces a one-year suspension following his last LIV event, after previous lifetime bans were significantly softened by former commissioner Jay Monahan. Why be vindictive when every LIV returnee aids the long-dominant Tour? This crucial issue seems partly resolved: ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reports Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which expired after 2022, to rejoin the player pool.
Any suspension would end by August, coinciding with the Tour Championship from August 27 to 30. Koepka would then be eligible for the 2027 season, timed with the PGA Tour’s compressed schedule of nearly two dozen $20 million events featuring best fields. A perfect reentry moment appealing to Koepka and PGA Tour Enterprises investors, likely operators of the new top league, who would welcome another big name.
\”He might need some time, but I think he’ll return to the PGA Tour,\” recently said Jon Rahm on the \”Subpar\” podcast. \”He’ll probably play the minimum, and why not the big tournaments he likes? If he qualifies or gets invited to top events, he would play those too.\” Perhaps the five-time major winner might get leniency at Ponte Vedra Beach – the suspension decision lies with the board, player directors, and Tiger Woods-led competition committee, following Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to reinstate Koepka immediately.
Update: That’s exactly what happened. Monday evening local time, news spread that Koepka is immediately eligible to play on the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open end of January in Torrey Pines. His participation in the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, Arizona, is also confirmed.
This was made possible by a newly created \”Returning Member Program\” announced last Thursday, allowing selected LIV players to regain PGA Tour membership without suspension. Koepka