First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager to compete again, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will remain connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for family, according to LIV-CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka, known as a competitive player who thrives under top-level competition, was less motivated at LIV. He joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injuries threatening his career and to secure retirement funds. Questions linger though: Did he buy out his contract or repay part of his guaranteed salary? Does he still own the LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch? Speculations arise about which tours Koepka will join next. The DP World Tour could grant immediate eligibility, possibly with a penalty. The PGA Tour’s previous one-year ban on LIV players has been softened. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reports Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which had not been extended after 2022.
Any potential suspension would expire in August, aligning with the end of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship. Koepka would be eligible for 2027’s revamped PGA Tour schedule featuring approximately two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited elite fields, a perfect timing for his comeback. Jon Rahm recently expressed confidence in Koepka’s return on the podcast \”Subpar,\” expecting him to play selectively in major events. The PGA Tour’s \”Returning Member Program\” established last Thursday allows select LIV players, including Koepka, to resume membership without suspension by considering his major victories, especially the 2023 PGA Championship.
Update: Koepka is immediately eligible for the PGA Tour and will compete at the Farmers Insurance Open end of January in Torrey Pines and the WM Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Arizona. As part of his return, he must donate $5 million to PGA Tour charity and is excluded in 2026 from the FedEx Cup bonus and the PGA Tour Enterprises equity program for five years.