First start at the Farmers, Vijay Singh ready to compete again, 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time. This was reportedly a friendly agreement, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is a competitive type who thrives in top-level competition, which was limited during his LIV tenure. He originally joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns and seeking a solid retirement fund. The decision to skip his final contractual season seems unsurprising, though questions remain about possible buyout or paying back part of his guaranteed salary. It’s also unknown if he still owns his LIV team Smash GC, captained now by Talor Gooch.
Speculation grows about Koepka’s next playing grounds. The DP World Tour could grant immediate eligibility, potentially with a penalty. The PGA Tour would impose a one-year suspension from his last LIV event, although previous life bans by former Commissioner Jay Monahan have been significantly softened. Why be vindictive when each LIV returnee benefits the more dominant PGA Tour? This key question seems partly resolved. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which lapsed after 2022, aiming to rejoin the players’ ranks.
See this post on Instagram
Any suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship (August 27-30). Koepka would be eligible for 2027 under the PGA Tour’s revamped schedule of nearly two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited, elite fields—a perfect comeback timing. PGA Tour Enterprises investors would also welcome a star of his magnitude.
\”He may need some time, but I think he’ll return to the PGA Tour,\” Jon Rahm recently said on the \”Subpar\” podcast. \”He’ll probably play at least the minimum and why not the tournaments he likes, the big ones. If he qualifies or gets invites to high-profile events, he’ll play those as well.\” Possibly, the PGA Tour might be lenient towards the five-time major champion, with input from the board, player directors, and Tiger Woods-led competition committee—following Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to reinstate Koepka immediately.
Update: That’s precisely what happened. 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 at the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, Arizona, is also confirmed.
This is enabled by the newly created \”Returning Member Program,\” established last Thursday, allowing selected LIV players to regain PGA Tour membership without suspension. Koepka’s sporting merits were recognized, especially his 2023 PGA Championship win