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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh. The five-time major winner will remain connected with the rival circuit but needs more time for his family, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is known as a competitor who thrives in high-level competition, which he found limited on LIV. Having joined LIV in 2022 amid injury concerns to secure his future earnings, it’s no surprise he skips the last contractual season, although questions remain about financial terms and his status as an owner of LIV’s Smash GC team, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation intensifies about where Koepka will compete next: the DP World Tour, possibly immediately eligible despite likely penalties, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension following his last LIV appearance. However, former Commissioner Jay Monahan’s lifetime bans have been softened, and reintegration seems favored for high-profile LIV returnees. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported that Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022.
A potential suspension would end in August, coinciding with the conclusion of the 2026 season’s Tour Championship. Koepka would then be eligible for 2027 under the PGA Tour’s new schedule featuring about two dozen $20 million events with limited top-player fields—an ideal reentry point. Investors in PGA Tour Enterprises would benefit from a star like Koepka returning.
Jon Rahm recently told the podcast ‘Subpar’ he believes Koepka will return to the PGA Tour, likely playing a minimal schedule including big events he prefers. The competition committee led by Tiger Woods and player directors, including Rory McIlroy who supports Koepka’s immediate return, have influence on suspensions.
Update: It happened just like that. 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 in late January at Torrey Pines. His participation in the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale is also confirmed.
The return is enabled by the newly created \”Returning Member Program,\” allowing select LIV players to rejoin the PGA Tour without suspension. Koepka’s case considered his recent merit, especially his 2023 PGA Championship win as the fifth major.
The PGA Tour stated this special rule applies to major winners and Players champions from the past three years, with a deadline of February 2. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp called it a one-time, well-defined opportunity not setting precedent. This may concern Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith, and cause unease in LIV Golf.
Koepka’s penalties for joining LIV are mild: a $5 million charity donation, exclusion from the 2026 FedEx Cup bonus system, and a five-year ban from PGA Tour’s capital participation program tied to investor funds with PGA Tour Enterprises.