First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh wants another shot, Charley Hull coming soon to 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for family. This was agreed upon amicably, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, which LIV did not fully provide. He switched to LIV in 2022 mainly because he feared his career might end due to injury and wanted to secure a comfortable retirement fund. Thus, skipping the last contracted season is not surprising, though questions remain about potential buyouts or repayments. Koepka remains the owner of his LIV team Smash GC, which has named Talor Gooch as the new captain.
Speculation abounds about which tours Koepka will soon play on: the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible possibly with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he would have to serve a one-year suspension following his last LIV event, because the lifetime bans imposed by former Commissioner Jay Monahan have been substantially softened. Why be vindictive when every LIV returnee benefits the more powerful PGA Tour? This key question appears partially answered. According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which had not been renewed after 2022, and to be readmitted as a player.
Any suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season after the Tour Championship (August 27–30). Koepka would be eligible to play in 2027 when the PGA Tour launches its new schedule focused on nearly two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited, top-tier fields. The perfect timing for a comeback, fitting Koepka’s preferences. PGA Tour Enterprises investors would certainly welcome another marquee name.
\”He might need some time, but I think he will return to the PGA Tour,\” Jon Rahm said recently on the \”Subpar\” podcast. \”He’ll probably play at least the minimum, and why not the tournaments he likes, the major ones. If he qualifies or gets into high-profile events, he would play those too.\” Perhaps the PGA will be lenient with a five-time major winner – the suspension decision involves the board, player directors, and Tiger Woods-led competition committee, which follows Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to let Koepka play immediately.
Update: It happened just like that. 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 late January in Torrey Pines. His participation at the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, Arizona is also confirmed.
This was made possible by the newly created \”Returning Member Program\” last Thursday,