First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh is making a comeback, and Charley Hull is launching a YouTube channel. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the LIV Golf League for the 2026 season starting February 7 in Riyadh. The five-time major winner will remain connected to the rival circuit but requires more family time, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. However, Koepka is known as a competitor who thrives on high-level battles, something he somewhat lacked in LIV. Originally joining LIV in 2022 due to injury concerns and to secure his retirement funds, his decision not to play the final contractual season is not surprising, though questions remain about financial settlements and his continued ownership of the LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation is rife about where Koepka will compete next – the DP World Tour, where he would be eligible to play immediately, potentially with a sanction, or the PGA Tour, where he must serve a one-year suspension after his last LIV appearance. Yet, after the significant reduction of lifetime bans imposed by former Commissioner Jay Monahan, reentry appears more likely. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported Koepka submitted a formal petition last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not extended beyond 2022, and to be reinstated as a tour player.
Any ban would end in August, coincidentally as the 2026 season concludes with the Tour Championship. Koepka would be eligible to play in 2027, coinciding with the PGA Tour’s new, condensed schedule featuring nearly two dozen $20 million tournaments and smaller, exclusive fields – an ideal reentry point fitting his preferences. PGA Tour Enterprises investors would undoubtedly welcome another marquee name. Jon Rahm recently expressed in the podcast ‘Subpar’ that he believes Koepka will return to the PGA Tour, playing at least a minimum number of events, particularly the bigger tournaments. Furthermore, special dispensation on the suspension could come from the player directors and the competition committee led by Tiger Woods, who reportedly support Koepka’s immediate return, following Rory McIlroy’s recommendation.
Update: It has come true. On Monday evening local time, news spread rapidly that Koepka is immediately eligible to compete 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 has been made possible by the newly created ‘Returning Member Program,’ allowing select LIV players to resume PGA membership without suspension. Koepka’s sporting achievements, including his 2023 PGA Championship win, were critical considerations. The PGA Tour’s statement highlights this opportunity is a one-time, clearly defined exception for major winners and Players champions from the past three years, ending February 2. CEO Brian Rolapp emphasized this is not precedent for future cases, a point that may concern other LIV players like Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith.
Koepka’s penalty for crossing to LIV is relatively light: a $5 million donation to PGA Tour Charity funds, exclusion from the 2026 FedEx