First start at the Farmers, Vijay Singh returns, Charley Hull launches a YouTube channel. The Back Nine brings the latest golf updates.
Expected news: Brooks Koepka has opted out of the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion plans to stay connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time. LIV CEO Scott McNeil confirmed the amicable agreement. However, Koepka is known to be a competitive spirit who thrives on high-level competition, something he found limited in LIV. Having joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns and to secure a retirement fund, it’s no surprise he declined his final contractual season, though questions remain about financial settlements and his ownership in LIV’s Smash GC team which named Talor Gooch as captain.
Speculation swirls about where Koepka will play next. DP World Tour? Though he might face penalties, he would be immediately eligible. Or returning to the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension following his last LIV event, after previous lifetime bans were softened. This pivotal question seems answered as ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reports Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, seeking reinstatement into the player pool.
An anticipated suspension would expire this August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship. Koepka would then be eligible for 2027, aligning perfectly with the PGA Tour’s revamped schedule featuring about two dozen $20 million events with limited elite fields—ideal for a high-profile comeback. PGA Tour Enterprises investors would also welcome a player of Koepka’s caliber.
Jon Rahm indicated in the podcast \”Subpar\” that Koepka needs some time but will likely return to the PGA Tour and participate in select marquee events he enjoys. The suspension decision involves the board, player directors, and Tiger Woods-led competition committee and reflects Rory McIlroy’s recommendation for Koepka’s immediate eligibility.
Update: It has happened. On Monday evening local time, it was widely reported that Koepka is immediately eligible to compete on the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines, with his Phoenix Open appearance also confirmed.
This became possible thanks to a new \”Returning Member Program\” created the previous Thursday, allowing selected LIV players to rejoin the PGA Tour without suspension. Koepka’s recent merits, notably his 2023 PGA Championship win as a fifth major, were decisive.
The PGA Tour’s statement notes the special rule applies only to major and Players winners from the past three years, with a deadline on February 2. CEO Brian Rolapp emphasized this as a one-time, clearly defined opportunity, not setting a precedent. This development undoubtedly concerns Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith and unsettles the LIV Golf League.
Koepka’s penalty for joining LIV is mild: a $5 million charity donation to the PGA Tour, exclusion from the 2026 FedEx Cup bonus system, and a five-year ban from PGA Tour capital programs tied to investors in PGA Tour Enterprises.