First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh back in action, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion will remain connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for family. This was reportedly agreed upon amicably according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil, although many remain skeptical. Koepka is known as a competitor who thrives in high-level contests, something he experienced only to a limited degree in LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 believing his career was ending due to injury and sought a solid retirement fund. Thus, his skipping the final contractual season is not surprising, though questions about potential buyouts or paybacks remain. He also still owns the LIV team Smash GC, which has named Talor Gooch its new captain.
Speculations abound where Koepka will play next. On the DP World Tour, he would instantly be eligible to compete—possibly with a penalty—or on the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension resulting from his last LIV appearance, though previous lifetime bans issued by former commissioner Jay Monahan have been significantly softened. Allowing prominent LIV returnees seems to serve the PGA Tour’s advantage. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported that last Friday Koepka formally applied to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which had not been extended after 2022, seeking to rejoin the playing field.
Any suspension would end in August, coinciding with the conclusion of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship running August 27-30. Koepka would be eligible to compete in 2027, aligning perfectly with the PGA Tour’s new condensed schedule of nearly two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited, top-tier fields. This timing suits Koepka well, and sponsors at PGA Tour Enterprises would certainly welcome another marquee name.
\”He might need some time, but I think he will return to the PGA Tour,\” Jon Rahm recently said in the \”Subpar\” podcast. \”He will probably play at least the minimum, and why not the tournaments he likes, especially the big ones. If he qualifies or is invited to big events, he would play those too.\” There is even the possibility of leniency on Koepka’s suspension, as the PGA Tour board, player representatives, and Tiger Woods–led competition committee have influence—and Rory McIlroy has recommended allowing Koepka to play immediately.
Update: This is exactly what 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 Torrey Pines in late January. His participation at the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale is also confirmed.
This was enabled by a new rule created last Thursday called the \”Returning Member Program,\” which allows selected LIV players to reinstate PGA Tour membership without suspension. Koepka’s case credited his recent sporting achievements, notably his 2023 PGA Championship win, his fifth major title.
The PGA Tour statement says this exception applies to