First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager to compete again, Charley Hull launching on YouTube soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion will remain connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his family. This was reportedly agreed upon amicably, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. However, Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level competition and motivation, which LIV has only partially provided. He originally joined LIV in 2022 believing his career might be ending due to injury and seeking a solid retirement fund. Therefore, his decision to skip the final contracted season is not surprising, though questions remain about financial settlements and his continued ownership of the LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculations abound about which fairways Koepka will feature on next. Will he return to the DP World Tour where he would be immediately eligible, possibly facing penalties? Or the PGA Tour, where he must serve a one-year suspension following his last LIV event, after previously imposed lifetime bans were drastically reduced? This crucial question seems partially answered. According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally requested last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which had not been renewed after 2022, aiming to rejoin the player pool.
Any suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship from August 27-30. Koepka would then be eligible for the 2027 season, which introduces a compressed schedule with about two dozen $20 million tournaments and limited fields featuring the best players — a perfect re-entry point appealing to Koepka. Such a star’s return would certainly please investors behind PGA Tour Enterprises, likely the new top league’s backers.
\”He might need some time, but I think he will return to the PGA Tour,\” Jon Rahm stated recently on the \”Subpar\” podcast. \”He’ll probably play at least the minimum, and why not the tournaments he likes, the big ones? If he qualifies or is invited to high-profile events, he would compete in those too.\” There might be leniency granted to the five-time major winner by PGA officials in Ponte Vedra Beach — including board members, player directors, and the competition committee led by Tiger Woods — following Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to let Koepka play immediately.
Update: This has indeed happened. Monday evening local time, news spread rapidly that Koepka is reinstated on the PGA Tour effective immediately, with confirmed starts at the Farmers Insurance Open late January in Torrey Pines and the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, Arizona.
This was enabled by the \”Returning Member Program,\” a new rule enacted last Thursday allowing select LIV players to resume PGA Tour membership without suspension. In Koepka’s case, his recent competitive achievements, notably the 2023 PGA Championship victory as his fifth major, were key considerations.
The PGA Tour states the exemption applies to major winners and Players