First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh aiming for a comeback, Charley Hull to launch on YouTube 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 champion will stay connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his family. This was reportedly a friendly agreement, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. However, Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level contests, something he found only limited in LIV. He switched to LIV mainly in 2022 due to injury concerns potentially ending his career but wanted to secure a solid retirement fund. Thus, skipping the final contracted season is not surprising, though questions remain whether he had to buy out or refund part of his guaranteed pay, and whether he remains owner of LIV team Smash GC, which named Talor Gooch as new captain.
Speculation is growing about which tours Koepka will play on next. The DP World Tour offers immediate eligibility, possibly for a penalty fee, or the PGA Tour where he serves a one-year suspension following his last LIV appearance after lifetime bans under commissioner Jay Monahan were softened. Why be spiteful when every prominent LIV returnee benefits the long-dominant PGA Tour? ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reported that Koepka formally requested reinstatement of his PGA Tour membership last Friday.
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The potential ban would end in August, coinciding with the Tour Championship running August 27-30. Koepka could then compete in 2027 under the PGA Tour’s compressed schedule of nearly two dozen $20 million tournaments featuring limited fields of top players. A perfect opportunity for Koepka’s return and a boon for PGA Tour Enterprises investors backing the new top league.
\”He might need some time but I think he’ll return to the PGA Tour,\” Jon Rahm recently said on the \”Subpar\” podcast. \”He’ll probably play at least the minimum and why not the big tournaments he likes? If he qualifies for other big events, he’d play those too.\” The PGA Tour’s board, player directors, and Tiger Woods-led competition committee—following Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to allow Koepka’s immediate return—may even waive or limit the suspension for the five-time major winner.
Update: It happened as predicted. On Monday evening local time, news spread rapidly that Koepka is immediately eligible for the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines at the end of January. His participation at the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona is also confirmed.
This became possible through the newly created \”Returning Member Program,\” announced last Thursday, allowing certain LIV players to rejoin the PGA Tour without suspension. Koepka’s sporting merits, especially the 2023 PGA Championship as his fifth major win, were considered in his case.
The PGA Tour