First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh making a comeback, 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion will stay connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his family. This was a mutual agreement, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is a competitive type who gets motivated and fired up only by top-level competition, which was limited at LIV. He switched to LIV in 2022 mainly because of injuries that threatened his career and to secure a substantial retirement fund. Therefore, skipping the last contractually required season is unsurprising, although questions remain: Did he have to buy out the contract or return part of the guaranteed fee? Will the 35-year-old remain owner of his LIV team Smash GC, which has already named Talor Gooch as new captain?
Speculation is rife over where Koepka will appear next. On the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible to play—probably with a penalty? Or on the PGA Tour, where he serves a one-year suspension since his last LIV event after former Commissioner Jay Monahan’s lifetime bans were significantly softened? Why be vindictive when every LIV returnee, especially a prominent one, plays into the hands of the already stronger tour? This key question seems partially answered. According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, last Friday Koepka formally applied to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022, and be reinstated as a member.
An eventual suspension would end in August, coinciding with the 2026 season finale at the Tour Championship from August 27-30. Koepka would then be eligible to play in 2027 as the PGA Tour introduces its compressed new schedule with nearly two dozen $20 million tournaments, featuring limited, highly competitive fields—the perfect time for a comeback, to Koepka’s liking. PGA Tour Enterprises investors, likely backing the new top league, would also welcome another big name.
\”He might need some time, but I think he’ll return to the PGA Tour,\” recently said Jon Rahm in the ‘Subpar’ podcast. \”He’ll probably play at least the minimum, and why not the tournaments he likes, the big ones? If he qualifies or qualifies for high-profile events, he’ll play those too.\” Perhaps the PGA Tour will turn a blind eye for a five-time major winner—beyond the board, player directors and the Tiger Woods-led competition committee have a say on suspensions and follow Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to allow Koepka to play immediately.
Update: Exactly as expected, news spread Monday evening local time that Koepka is immediately eligible to compete on the PGA Tour and is set to tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in late January. His participation at the WM Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Arizona is also confirmed.
Made possible by the \”Returning Member Program,\” a new rule enacted last Thursday allowing selected LIV players to rejoin the PGA Tour without suspension. Koepka’s sporting merits were considered