First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager for a comeback, Charley Hull launching a YouTube channel 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will stay connected to the competing circuit but needs more family time. This was mutually agreed upon, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is a competitor who thrives in high-level contests, something LIV had not fully provided. He originally joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns late in his career and to secure a substantial retirement fund. Thus, skipping the final contract year is not surprising, though questions remain about possible buyouts or repayments. Koepka remains the owner of LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation grows on where Koepka will next compete: the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible, perhaps with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he would have to serve a one-year suspension since his last LIV appearance, after the former lifetime bans were significantly softened. Returning to the PGA Tour benefits both Koepka and the established tour. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported that Koepka formally applied to reactivate his PGA Tour membership last Friday.
An eventual suspension would end in August, coinciding with the conclusion of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship. Koepka would be eligible to play in 2027 under the PGA Tour’s new schedule of nearly two dozen $20 million events with limited, elite fields—a perfect timing for a comeback and appealing to PGA Tour Enterprises investors backing the new league.
Jon Rahm recently expressed optimism on the podcast \”Subpar\” that Koepka will return, likely playing minimum events and his favorite large tournaments. The PGA Tour’s returning policies involve the board, player directors, and the competition committee headed by Tiger Woods, with Rory McIlroy endorsing Koepka’s immediate return.
Update: It happened as predicted: news spread rapidly Monday evening that Koepka is immediately eligible to play on the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines. His participation at the WM Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Arizona, is confirmed.
This was enabled by the new \”Returning Member Program\” rule created last Thursday, allowing selected LIV players to rejoin the PGA Tour without suspension. Koepka’s sporting merits, including his 2023 PGA Championship win, were key factors.
The PGA Tour stated the special rule applies to major winners and Players Championship victors from the past three years, expiring February 2. CEO Brian Rolapp emphasized this opportunity is unique and not a precedent for future cases. This likely causes concern among players like Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith, as well as the LIV Golf League.
Koepka’s penalty for joining LIV is mild: a $5 million charitable donation to the PGA Tour, exclusion from the 2026 FedEx Cup bonus system, and a five-year ban from the PGA Tour