First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh ready to compete again, Charley Hull launching YouTube channel soon. The Back Nine.
As expected: Five-time major winner Brooks Koepka has opted out of the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; he remains connected to the rival circuit but wants more time for family. This was mutually agreed upon, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, which he found limited at LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 due to injury concerns and to secure a solid retirement fund, so skipping the last contract year is not surprising, although questions remain about possible buyouts or partial salary repayments. Koepka remains owner of the LIV team Smash GC, which now has Talor Gooch as captain.
Speculation is rife about where Koepka will play next—whether on the DP World Tour with immediate eligibility, possibly with a penalty fee, or on the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension since his last LIV appearance, following softened lifetime bans imposed by former commissioner Jay Monahan. Why be vindictive when every LIV returnee benefits the more established tour? ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, previously not extended after 2022.
Any suspension would end in August 2026, coinciding with the Tour Championship concluding the season. Koepka would be eligible for the 2027 season under the PGA Tour’s streamlined schedule of nearly two dozen $20 million-dollar events with limited elite fields—ideal timing for a comeback. This would also please PGA Tour Enterprises’ investors who back the new top league.
\”He might need some time, but I think he will return to the PGA Tour,\” said Jon Rahm recently on the Subpar podcast. \”He’ll likely play minimum events, focusing on big tournaments he likes. If he qualifies or is invited to high-profile events, he’ll play those too.\” It is possible PGA Tour decision-makers, including player directors and Tiger Woods-led competition committee, might waive suspensions for a five-time major winner, following Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to allow Koepka back immediately.
Update: It has happened. On Monday evening local time, news spread rapidly that Koepka is immediately eligible to play on the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines at the end of January. Participation in the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, Arizona, is also confirmed.
This is made possible by the recently created \”Returning Member Program,\” allowing selected LIV players to regain PGA Tour membership without suspension. Koepka’s sporting merits, especially his 2023 PGA Championship victory as a fifth major, were considered.
The PGA Tour statement clarifies eligibility for major winners and Players Championship winners within the past three years. The deadline is February 2. \”This is a one-time, clearly defined opportunity and does not set a precedent,\” said PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp. \”Once this door closes, there is no guarantee it will reopen.\” This may give Jon Rahm, Bryson De