First start at Farmers, Vijay Singh returning, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his family. This was a friendly agreement, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level sporting challenges, which LIV had only partially fulfilled. He initially joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injuries threatening his career, seeking a solid retirement fund. Thus, skipping the last contracted season is no surprise, though questions remain about contract buyouts or refunds. Koepka still owns his LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation grows about where Koepka will next compete: the DP World Tour, where he would be eligible immediately possibly with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension due to his last LIV event. This suspension was reduced significantly from lifetime bans previously imposed by former commissioner Jay Monahan. A prominent LIV returnee fits the PGA Tour’s interests well. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reports Koepka formally applied to reactivate his PGA Tour membership last Friday.
Potential suspension ends in August, coinciding with the 2026 season’s conclusion at the Tour Championship (August 27-30). Koepka would be eligible for 2027 under the PGA Tour’s new schedule featuring about two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited fields, a perfect comeback scenario. PGA Tour Enterprises investors would welcome such a star addition.
Jon Rahm recently said on the \”Subpar\” podcast: \”He might need some time, but I think he’ll return to the PGA Tour. He’ll likely play at least the minimum, and why not the tournaments he likes, the big events? If he qualifies for top tournaments, he’ll play those, too.\” The PGA Tour board, player directors, and Tiger Woods-led competition committee have a say in suspensions, with Rory McIlroy supporting Koepka’s immediate return.
Update: It happened: News spread rapidly Monday evening showing Koepka is immediately eligible for the PGA Tour, debuting at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines. He is also confirmed for the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, Arizona.
The \”Returning Member Program,\” created last Thursday, allows select LIV players to rejoin the PGA Tour without suspension. Koepka’s recent PGA Championship 2023 victory as a fifth major counted in his favor.
The PGA Tour states this special rule applies to major and Players winners from the past three years, ending February 2. CEO Brian Rolapp calls it a \”once-defined opportunity\” without precedent for future cases. This may concern Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith, and stir unease in LIV Golf.
Koepka’s penalty for joining LIV is mild: a $5 million donation to PGA Tour charity, exclusion from the 2026 FedEx Cup bonus and a five-year ban from PGA Tour Enterprises’ equity program.