First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh is giving it another go, and Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season that begins February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time. This was mutually agreed upon, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is a competitor who thrives in high-level competition, something he found limited at LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 due to injury concerns and to secure retirement funds. Questions remain whether he had to buy out his contract or refund part of his guaranteed pay. He still owns 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 immediately eligible, possibly with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension after his last LIV appearance. Previously, permanent bans imposed by former commissioner Jay Monahan were softened. Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership lost after 2022, according to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach.
An eventual suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship. He would then be eligible for 2027 under the PGA Tour’s newly condensed schedule featuring about two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited elite fields—a perfect time for Koepka’s return. PGA Tour Enterprises investors would welcome such a high-profile name.
Jon Rahm recently expressed confidence Koepka will return, likely playing minimum events and his preferred major tournaments. The PGA Tour competition committee led by Tiger Woods and player directors could waive his suspension, following Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to reinstate Koepka immediately.
Update: It has happened. On Monday evening local time, news spread 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 in Arizona.
This was made possible by the recent \”Returning Member Program,\” allowing select LIV players to rejoin the PGA Tour without suspension. Koepka’s recent 2023 PGA Championship win as his fifth major was a key factor.
The PGA Tour states the special rule applies to major winners and Players champions from the last three years, ending February 2. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp confirmed this is a unique opportunity, not setting a precedent. This development likely concerns Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith, creating unease in LIV Golf.
Koepka’s penalty is relatively mild: a $5 million donation to PGA Tour charity, exclusion from the 2026 FedEx Cup bonus, and five years’ removal from the PGA Tour Enterprises equity program funded by investors.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Launch for 2026
Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed his participation in the 2026 LIV