First start already at the Farmers; Vijay Singh returns; Charley Hull to launch YouTube channel soon. 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will stay connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his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. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, something LIV Golf did not fully provide. He initially joined LIV in 2022 due to injury concerns and to secure a solid retirement fund. Given this context, skipping the final contract year is not surprising, although questions remain: Did he buy out his contract or refund part of his guaranteed salary? Does he still own the LIV team Smash GC, which recently named Talor Gooch as its new captain?
Speculation swirls about which fairways Koepka will appear on next. The DP World Tour could grant him immediate playing rights, perhaps with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he would have to serve a one-year suspension after his last LIV appearance, following a significant easing of previous lifetime bans. Why hold grudges when every prominent LIV returnee benefits the already dominant PGA Tour? This question seems partly answered. According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally submitted a request last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which had not been extended after 2022, seeking reinstatement as a tour player.
An eventual suspension would expire in August, coinciding roughly with the end of the 2026 season and the Tour Championship at the end of August. However, Koepka would be eligible for 2027, aligning with the PGA Tour’s compressed schedule featuring nearly two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited, competitive fields—a perfect comeback moment for Koepka. PGA Tour Enterprises investors, who will likely underwrite the new elite league, would welcome another big name.
\”He might need some time, but I think he will return to the PGA Tour,\” said Jon Rahm recently on the \”Subpar\” podcast. \”He will probably play at least the minimum, I’d say, and why not the tournaments he likes, the big ones. If he then qualifies for or is invited to elite events, he will play those too.\” Perhaps an exception will be made for a five-time major champion, with input from the board, player directors, and the competition committee led by Tiger Woods, following Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to reinstate Koepka immediately.
Update: It happened just like that. On Monday evening local time, news spread quickly that Koepka is immediately eligible to play on the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines. His participation at the WM Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Arizona is also confirmed.
This is enabled by a newly created rule called the \”Returning Member Program,\” established last Thursday, allowing selected LIV players to regain PGA Tour membership without suspension. In Koepka’s case, his sporting achievements, especially his 2023 PGA Championship (his fifth major