First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh wants another shot, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will remain connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for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 he found limited at LIV. He joined LIV in 2022 primarily due to injury concerns and to secure financial stability for retirement. His opting out of the final contracted season raises questions about potential buyouts or repayments. He remains the owner of LIV team Smash GC, which appointed Talor Gooch as its new captain.
Speculation is rife about which tours Koepka will appear on next — DP World Tour where he would be eligible quickly, possibly with a penalty, or the PGA Tour where he faces a one-year suspension from his last LIV event, though previous lifetime bans have been softened. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership that was not extended after 2022.
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The suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship from August 27-30. This would allow Koepka eligibility in 2027 when the PGA Tour introduces a compressed schedule with about two dozen $20 million events featuring limited fields. This timing fits Koepka’s preferences and would be attractive to PGA Tour Enterprises investors. Jon Rahm recently expressed confidence in Koepka’s return on the podcast ‘Subpar’, suggesting he will likely play the minimum and major events he prefers. Influential figures like Rory McIlroy support a rapid reinstatement, with discretion resting among the PGA Tour’s board, player directors, and Tiger Woods-led competition committee.
Update: On Monday evening local time, news spread rapidly that Koepka is immediately eligible to play on the PGA Tour, with confirmed entries for the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines and the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, Arizona. This was enabled by the newly created “Returning Member Program” which allows select LIV players to regain PGA Tour membership without suspension. Koepka’s sporting merits, notably his 2023 PGA Championship win, were considered. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp emphasized this is a one-time, defined opportunity and not precedent-setting. This development unsettles players like Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith and causes concern within the LIV Golf League.
Koepka’s penalty for crossing to LIV is mild: a $5 million donation to the PGA Tour charity, exclusion from the 2026 FedEx Cup bonus pool, and a five-year ban from PGA Tour equity programs linked to PGA Tour Enterprises investors.