First start already at Farmers, Vijay Singh’s comeback, Charley Hull’s YouTube debut. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh. The five-time major champion will stay connected to the competing circuit but needs more family time, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka, known as a competitive type who thrives in top-level contests, was not fully motivated in LIV. Having joined LIV in 2022 when he feared injury might end his career, he aimed to secure a solid retirement fund. So skipping the last contractual season is not surprising, though questions remain about buyouts or refunds. Meanwhile, he remains owner of LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation rises about where Koepka will compete next—DP World Tour where he would be immediately eligible likely with a penalty, or PGA Tour where he faces a one-year suspension since last LIV appearance after previous lifetime bans were softened. Why be vindictive when every returning LIV player benefits the PGA Tour? According to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not extended after 2022.
An eventual suspension would end in August, coinciding with the close of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship. Koepka would be eligible to play in 2027’s newly formatted PGA Tour with nearly two dozen $20 million tournaments and limited fields—an ideal comeback moment. PGA Tour investors would welcome this prominent name. Jon Rahm recently suggested on the \”Subpar\” podcast that Koepka will return, possibly playing selectively in tournaments he likes, especially the big ones. PGA Tour leadership, including Tiger Woods’ competition committee, may ease the suspension, supported by Rory McIlroy’s endorsement.
Update: It has happened: Koepka is immediately eligible to play on the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in late January. Participation at the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale is confirmed. This is made possible by the \”Returning Member Program\” introduced the prior Thursday, allowing selected LIV players to rejoin without suspension. Koepka’s recent merits, including the 2023 PGA Championship, were decisive. The PGA Tour states this special rule applies only to major and Players winners of the past three years and expires on February 2, with no guarantee of recurrence, causing uncertainty for prominent LIV players like Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith.
Koepka’s penalty for joining LIV is mild: a $5 million donation to PGA Tour charity, exclusion from the 2026 FedEx Cup bonus and five-year ineligibility from the PGA Tour Enterprises equity program.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Start for 2026
Bryson DeChambeau has officially confirmed his participation in the 2026 LIV Golf season. His Crushers team with Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri continues unchanged into the fifth season, though no general contract extension was announced, spar