First start already at the Farmers; Vijay Singh wants to give it another go; 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will remain connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time. This was mutually agreed upon, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. However, Koepka is known as a competitor who thrives in high-level sporting confrontations, which he found limited in LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 mostly to secure a substantial retirement fund due to injury concerns. His skipping of the final contract season raises questions: did he buy out his contract or refund part of his guarantee? Is he still the owner of the LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch?
Speculation is rife about Koepka’s next playing fields. Will it be the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible likely with a fine? Or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension following his last LIV appearance, after previously issued lifetime bans were softened? Why hold grudges when every prominent LIV returnee benefits the stronger established Tour? ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reports Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which lapsed in 2022, aiming to rejoin the player ranks.
See this post on Instagram
Any suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship from August 27–30. Koepka would then be eligible for 2027 under the PGA Tour’s new compressed schedule featuring about two dozen $20 million events with limited, highly competitive fields. This timing suits Koepka perfectly and would appeal to investors at PGA Tour Enterprises, likely holders of the new top league. Jon Rahm recently expressed confidence that Koepka will return to the PGA Tour, suggesting he might play at least the minimum and favor the big tournaments. The player directors and Tiger Woods-led competition committee could grant leniency on his suspension, especially following Rory McIlroy’s recommendation for Koepka’s immediate return.
Update: Koepka’s return has been confirmed. On Monday evening local time, news spread rapidly that he is immediately eligible to play on the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open late January at Torrey Pines. His participation at the WM Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Arizona, is also confirmed.
This is enabled by the newly created ‘Returning Member Program,’ allowing selected LIV players to reinstate PGA Tour membership without suspension. Koepka’s sporting merits, especially his 2023 PGA Championship victory as his fifth major