First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager to return, Charley Hull launching on YouTube soon. 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time.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 a friendly agreement, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. However, Koepka is a competitor who thrives when facing high-level competition, which he largely lacked at LIV. He originally joined LIV in 2022 due to injury concerns about ending his career prematurely and to secure a solid retirement fund. Thus, skipping the last contractual season is not surprising, though questions remain about potential buyouts or paybacks. At 35, he still owns his LIV team Smash GC, which already appointed Talor Gooch as captain.
Speculation abounds where Koepka will play next. He would be immediately eligible on the DP World Tour—possibly incurring a penalty—or on the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension after his last LIV event, following a reduction of previously imposed lifetime bans. Given the PGA Tour’s accommodating stance towards returning LIV players, this question seems partially answered. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported that Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which wasn’t extended after 2022, to regain full playing privileges.
His potential suspension would expire in August—coinciding with the end of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship from August 27-30. Koepka would be eligible for 2027, aligning with the PGA Tour’s new schedule compressed to about two dozen $20 million events featuring elite limited fields—a perfect timing for his return. PGA Tour Enterprises’ investors would welcome another strong name joining the new top league.
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