First start already at the Farmers; Vijay Singh is back on the PGA Tour; Charley Hull to launch her YouTube channel soon. The Back Nine.
Predictably, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the LIV Golf League season 2026, which starts on February 7 in Riyadh. The five-time major winner will stay connected to the competing circuit but needs more family time. This was reportedly agreed upon amicably, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is a competitive athlete who thrives on high-level contests, something he found limited on LIV. He had joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns threatening his career and to secure a good retirement payout. Thus, his decision to skip the final contracted season is not surprising, although questions remain about any buyout or repayment of guaranteed earnings. Will the 35-year-old still own his LIV team Smash GC, which recently appointed Talor Gooch as captain?
Speculation about which tour Koepka will next appear on is rife. He would be eligible to play on the DP World Tour immediately, possibly with a penalty payment, or on the PGA Tour after serving a one-year suspension from his last LIV event, following the reduction of lifetime bans previously imposed by former Commissioner Jay Monahan. There seems no point in being vengeful when every returning LIV player, particularly a star like Koepka, benefits the PGA Tour, which holds the longer leash. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported that Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022, to rejoin the player pool.
An eventual suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship late August. Koepka would then be eligible for 2027 under the PGA Tour’s new condensed schedule featuring nearly two dozen $20-million tournaments with limited, highly selected fields—a perfect timing for his comeback. This would also please investors at PGA Tour Enterprises, likely the backers of the new top league, who would welcome an additional high-profile name.
Jon Rahm recently said on the \”Subpar\” podcast, \”He might need some time, but I think he’ll return to the PGA Tour. He’ll probably play at least the minimum, and why not the big tournaments he likes? If he qualifies for or gets into high-profile events, he would play those too.\” It’s possible the PGA Tour might ease Koepka’s suspension, with input from the board, player directors, and the competition committee led by Tiger Woods, following Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to allow Koepka to play immediately.
Update: Just as predicted, news spread like wildfire Monday evening that Koepka is immediately eligible to play on the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines. He is also confirmed for the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, Arizona.
This is enabled by a new rule called the \”Returning Member Program,\” created last Thursday, allowing select LIV players to regain PGA Tour membership without suspension. Koepka’s sporting merits, particularly the 2023