First start at the Farmers, Vijay Singh back on PGA Tour, Charley Hull launching YouTube channel. 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for family.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 amicable agreement was officially announced by LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is a competitive type who thrives on top-level competition, which was somewhat limited during his LIV stint. He switched to LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns threatening his career and to secure a good retirement fund. Therefore, skipping the final contractual season is not surprising, although questions remain about buyouts or refunding part of his guaranteed fee. It is also unknown if he remains owner of LIV team Smash GC, newly captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation is rife about where Koepka will appear next. Will it be the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible, possibly paying a penalty? Or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension from his last LIV event, after Jay Monahan’s lifetime bans were significantly softened? It seems that question is partly answered. According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which lapsed after 2022, aiming to rejoin the player ranks.
Any suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship (August 27-30). However, Koepka would be eligible in 2027 for the PGA Tour’s new schedule featuring nearly two dozen $20 million events with limited elite fields—the perfect timing for his comeback, fitting his style. PGA Tour Enterprises investors would welcome a high-profile name like Koepka in the new top league.
Jon Rahm recently said on the \”Subpar\” podcast, ‘He might need some time, but I think he’ll come back to the PGA Tour. He’ll probably play at least the minimum and the big tournaments he likes. If he qualifies for big events or gets invites, he’ll play those too.’ Perhaps the PGA Tour will overlook the suspension for a five-time major champion; player directors and the Tiger Woods-led competition committee, who hold say over suspensions, reportedly favor Koepka’s immediate return, following Rory McIlroy’s recommendation.
Update: On Monday evening, it was confirmed that Koepka is immediately eligible for the PGA Tour and will play at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines. Participation at the WM Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Arizona, is also confirmed.
This is enabled by the \”Returning Member Program\” created last Thursday, allowing selected LIV players to rejoin the PGA Tour without suspension. Koepka’s recent 2023 PGA Championship win was a major factor.
The PGA Tour stated