First start already at the Farmers; Vijay Singh returns; Charley Hull to launch YouTube channel soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially opted out of the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh. The five-time major winner plans to remain connected to the competing circuit but needs more family time, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. However, rumors suggest otherwise. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, which LIV did not consistently provide. He initially joined LIV in 2022 partly due to injury uncertainties and the financial security of his retirement fund. Questions remain about whether he had to pay to exit early or refund guaranteed money, and if he remains an owner of his LIV team Smash GC, now led by Talor Gooch.
Speculation is rife about where Koepka will play next — the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible, possibly with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension from his last LIV event, a penalty significantly reduced from the original lifetime bans imposed by former commissioner Jay Monahan. The PGA Tour appears to be making it easy for high-profile LIV returnees. ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reported that Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership after not renewing post-2022, seeking reinstatement to the playing field.
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His potential suspension would end in August, coinciding with the conclusion of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship from August 27-30. This timing positions Koepka perfectly for a 2027 comeback aligned with the PGA Tour’s new schedule featuring about two dozen $20 million events with limited, highly competitive fields. Such a return would be much welcomed by PGA Tour Enterprises investors backing the emerging top league. Jon Rahm recently expressed confidence in Koepka’s return on the “Subpar” podcast, saying he expected Koepka to at least play selectively in major events. The PGA Tour’s competition committee led by Tiger Woods and the players’ board, including Rory McIlroy who favors Koepka’s reinstatement, holds influence over the suspension status.
Update: The news broke Monday evening local time that Koepka is immediately eligible to compete on the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines, with Phoenix Open participation confirmed as well. This became possible thanks to the new “Returning Member Program” introduced Thursday, allowing select LIV players to regain PGA Tour membership without suspension. Koepka’s recent achievements, including the 2023 PGA Championship win, were key to the decision. The PGA Tour stated this rules applies only to major and Players Championship winners from the