First start at the Farmers, Vijay Singh returns, Charley Hull heads to YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7th in Riyadh. The five-time major champion will stay connected to the rival circuit but needs more time with family, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka, a fierce competitor who thrives on high-level competition, found it challenging to fully ignite in LIV. He joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns, seeking a lucrative retirement fund. Thus, skipping the final contracted season is unsurprising, though questions remain about buyouts or paybacks. Koepka remains owner of LIV team Smash GC, which named Talor Gooch captain.
Speculation abounds about Koepka’s next playing grounds. The DP World Tour grants immediate eligibility, possibly with penalties, while the PGA Tour imposed a one-year suspension from last LIV appearance. The former commissioner Jay Monahan’s lifetime bans were softened, opening doors. ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reports Koepka formally applied to reinstate his PGA Tour membership after the 2022 non-renewal.
Koepka’s suspension would end by August, aligning with the 2026 Tour Championship finale. He would then be eligible to play in 2027 under the PGA Tour’s revamped schedule focusing on fewer, high-stakes $20 million events with limited fields. This timing suits Koepka and would appeal to PGA Tour Enterprises investors. Jon Rahm expressed confidence Koepka will return, likely playing select big tournaments. The PGA and competition committees, influenced by Rory McIlroy, could waive suspensions for a player of Koepka’s caliber.
Update: Koepka is now immediately eligible for the PGA Tour and will debut at the Farmers Insurance Open end of January at Torrey Pines, with appearance confirmed for the WM Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Arizona. This is enabled by the new \”Returning Member Program,\” a special exemption for recent major and Players champions, applying for the first time to Koepka’s 2023 PGA Championship title. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp called it a unique opportunity with no guarantees for repeat cases, a move likely unsettling LIV Golf and notable players like Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith.
Koepka’s penalties include a $5 million charity donation, exclusion from the 2026 FedEx Cup bonus system, and a five-year ban from the PGA Tour’s equity program with investors.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Golf Return for 2026
Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau confirmed his participation in LIV Golf’s 2026 season. His Crushers team—Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri—remains intact. No general contract extension was announced, fueling speculation about negotiations to retain LIV’s most marketable player following Koepka’s departure.