First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh is back too, Charley Hull soon on 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the competing circuit but needs more time for his family. This was amicably agreed upon, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on sporting challenges at the highest level, which he only partially found at LIV. Having joined LIV in 2022 mainly because of injury concerns threatening his career’s end and to secure a solid retirement fund, his waived last contracted season is unsurprising, although questions remain. Did he have to buy out or return part of his guaranteed pay? Is he still the owner of LIV team Smash GC, which already appointed Talor Gooch as captain?
Speculation abounds on which fairways Koepka will appear next—DP World Tour where he’s immediately eligible, possibly against a penalty, or the PGA Tour where he faces a one-year suspension since his last LIV appearance, after former commissioner Jay Monahan softened lifetime bans. Why be vindictive when every LIV returnee benefits the established tour? ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reported Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which lapsed after 2022.
Any suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the 2026 season end at the Tour Championship (Aug 27-30). Koepka would be eligible for 2027 when PGA Tour rolls out its new schedule with nearly two dozen $20 million tournaments featuring limited, top-tier fields—the perfect comeback moment. PGA Tour Enterprises investors would welcome such a high-profile name.
\”He might need some time, but I think he’ll return to the PGA Tour,\” Jon Rahm recently said on the \”Subpar\” podcast. \”He’ll likely play at least the minimum, focusing on big events he likes. If he qualifies or is invited to prestigious tournaments, he’ll play those too.\” The PGA Tour board, player directors, and Tiger Woods-led competition committee may be lenient on the suspension, heeding Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to reinstate Koepka immediately.
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