First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager to return, Charley Hull launching on YouTube soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting on February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains connected to the competing circuit but needs more family time. This was reportedly a friendly agreement, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. But Koepka is a competitor who thrives on playing at the highest level, something LIV Golf could not fully provide. He originally joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns threatening his career and to secure a good retirement fund. Therefore, his decision to skip the last contracted season is understandable, though questions remain about financial settlements and his continued ownership of the LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation abounds about which fairways Koepka will appear on next. The DP World Tour would immediately allow him to play, possibly with a penalty fee, or the PGA Tour where he would have to serve a one-year suspension from his last LIV appearance, following a significant softening of lifetime bans previously imposed by former commissioner Jay Monahan. Why be vindictive when every LIV returnee strengthens the already dominant opponent? This crucial question seems partially answered as ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership after it was not renewed post-2022 and to be reinstated as a player.
Koepka’s suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship from August 27-30. He would then be eligible for 2027 when the PGA Tour launches a new schedule featuring around two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited, elite fields—the ideal comeback setting for Koepka. Investors in PGA Tour Enterprises, likely the new top league’s backers, would also welcome another big name. \”He might need some time, but I think he’ll return to the PGA Tour,\” said Jon Rahm on the \”Subpar\” podcast. \”He’ll probably play at least the minimum, and why not his favorite big events? If he qualifies or gets into high-profile tournaments, he’d play those too.\” Perhaps a five-time major winner’s return could be eased at Ponte Vedra Beach, with Tiger Woods-led competition committee and player directors possibly waiving rules—as Rory McIlroy has advocated.
Update: It happened just like that. Monday evening local time, it spread like wildfire that Koepka is immediately eligible to