First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh ready for a comeback, Charley Hull launching on YouTube soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially opted out of the 2026 LIV Golf season starting on February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time. This was reportedly agreed upon amicably, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. However, Koepka is a competitive player who thrives in high-level sporting challenges, something he found limited on LIV. Having joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns and as a financial security move before retirement, it is unsurprising he foregoes the final contractual season. Questions remain though: Did he buy out of his contract or repay part of his guaranteed fee? Does he still own LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch?
Speculation is rife about which fairways Koepka may appear on next. Will it be the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible to play – possibly subject to a penalty? Or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension since his last LIV event, after previous lifetime bans imposed by former Commissioner Jay Monahan were substantially softened? The pragmatic approach is evident since every returning LIV player, especially a high-profile one, benefits the PGA Tour, which holds the upper hand. According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not extended after 2022, aiming to rejoin the player ranks.
Update: The news spread like wildfire Monday evening that Koepka is eligible immediately 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 was enabled by a new ‘Returning Member Program’ introduced the previous Thursday, allowing select LIV players to resume PGA Tour membership without suspension. Koepka’s recent competitive merits, notably his 2023 PGA Championship victory as a fifth major, were considered.
The PGA Tour stated that this special rule applies to major and Players Championship winners from the past three years, with a deadline of February 2. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp called it a one-time, clearly defined opportunity, not setting a precedent. This could impact players like Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith and cause unease within LIV Golf.
Koepka’s penalty for crossing to LIV is moderate: a $5 million donation to PGA Tour charity, exclusion from the 2026 FedEx Cup bonus system, and a five-year ban from the PGA Tour’s equity participation program involving investor funds.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Start for 2026
Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed he will compete in the 2026 LIV Golf season. His Crushers team, including Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri, will continue for their fifth season. However, DeChambeau has not announced a general contract