First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh back in action, Charley Hull launching on YouTube soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting on February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for family. This was amicably agreed upon, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is a competitor who gets highly motivated and fired up only in top-level competition, which he only partially found at LIV. He switched to LIV in 2022 mainly because of injury concerns threatening his career end and to secure a solid retirement fund. So, skipping the last contractually required season is not surprising, though questions linger. Did he have to buy out or repay part of the guaranteed fee? Does the 35-year-old remain owner of his LIV team Smash GC, which already appointed Talor Gooch as new captain?
Speculation abounds on which fairways Koepka will appear next. On the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible to play—possibly with a penalty? Or on the PGA Tour, where he would have to serve a one-year suspension since his last LIV appearance after former Commissioner Jay Monahan softened previously harsh lifetime bans? Why be vindictive when every LIV returnee, especially a prominent one like Koepka, plays into the hands of the stronger-established Tour? This crucial question seems partly answered. According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022, to be reinstated as a player.
An eventual suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the 2026 season’s conclusion at the Tour Championship from August 27-30. Koepka would then be eligible to play in 2027 when the PGA Tour introduces its new schedule featuring about two dozen $20 million events with limited fields, perfectly timed for a comeback according to Koepka. PGA Tour Enterprises investors would likely welcome another marquee name.
\”He may need some time, but I think he will return to the PGA Tour,\” Jon Rahm recently said in the podcast \”Subpar.\” \”He will probably play at least the minimum, I’d say, and why not the tournaments he likes, the big ones. If he qualifies for or is invited to high-profile events, he would play those, too.\” Perhaps the PGA Tour will be lenient with the five-time major winner — decisions on suspensions involve the board, player directors, and the competition committee led by Tiger Woods, who supports Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to let Koepka play again immediately.
Update: Just as predicted, news broke Monday evening that Koepka is immediately eligible to compete on the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in late January. His participation in the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale is also confirmed.
This became possible through the \”Returning Member Program,\” a new rule created last Thursday allowing selected LIV players to reinstate PGA Tour membership without suspension. Koepka