First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh is back, and Charley Hull is 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh.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 remains connected to the competing circuit but needs more time for family, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka, a fierce competitor motivated by elite-level contests, had limited enthusiasm for LIV. He joined LIV Golf in 2022 mainly due to injuries threatening his career and to secure a solid retirement fund. Skipping his final contracted season raises questions: Was there a buyout or partial repayment? Does the 35-year-old still own his LIV team Smash GC, recently captained by Talor Gooch?
Speculation surrounds where Koepka will next compete. The DP World Tour would grant immediate eligibility, potentially with a penalty, or the PGA Tour where he would face a mandatory one-year suspension after his last LIV appearance, reduced from lifetime bans previously imposed. Returning LIV players can boost the PGA Tour, helping them strategically, a key question partially answered: ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reports Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, not renewed since 2022.
An eventual suspension would end in August, coincident with the 2026 season finale at the Tour Championship (August 27–30). Koepka would be eligible in 2027 as the PGA Tour launches a condensed schedule of roughly two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited elite fields — an ideal comeback moment. PGA Tour Enterprises investors would welcome such a significant name.
Jon Rahm recently commented on the podcast \”Subpar\”, ”He might take some time but I think he will return to the PGA Tour. He’ll probably play at least the minimum, why not the big tournaments he likes? If he qualifies or is invited to high-profile events, he would play those too.” The waiver might be granted by the board, player directors, and a competition committee led by Tiger Woods, who, along with Rory McIlroy, supports Koepka’s immediate return.
Update: It happened just like that. On Monday evening local time, news spread rapidly that Koepka is immediately PGA Tour eligible 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 is also confirmed.
This is enabled by the newly established \”Returning Member Program\” allowing selected LIV players to rejoin the PGA Tour without suspension. Koepka’s sporting merits, especially his 2023 PGA Championship win, were key factors.
The PGA Tour states the exemption applies to major and Players Championship winners within the last three years, with the deadline on February 2. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp called this a unique opportunity, not setting a precedent for future cases. This development may concern Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith and cause unease within LIV Golf.
Koepka’s penalty for joining LIV is mild: a $5 million donation to PGA Tour charity,