First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager for a comeback, Charley Hull launching on YouTube soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the LIV Golf League for the 2026 season starting on February 7 in Riyadh. The five-time major champion will remain connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his family, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka, known as a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, was not fully motivated at LIV. In 2022, he joined LIV mainly due to injuries threatening his career and the opportunity to secure a good retirement fund. His decision to forgo the final contractual season is therefore unsurprising, though questions remain about possible buyouts or partial repayments. He remains an owner of the LIV team Smash GC, with Talor Gooch as the new captain.
Speculation grows about which fairways Koepka will appear on next. On the DP World Tour, he would be immediately eligible, likely with a penalty payment. On the PGA Tour, he would face a one-year suspension after his last LIV event, though previous lifetime bans by former commissioner Jay Monahan have been significantly relaxed. This key issue seems partially resolved: according to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which had not been renewed after 2022, and to rejoin the player ranks.
Any suspension would expire in August 2026, coinciding with the end of the season at the Tour Championship from August 27-30. Koepka would be eligible for 2027, when the PGA Tour plans a compressed schedule of about two dozen $20 million events with limited, top-tier fields—the perfect timing for his comeback. PGA Tour Enterprises investors would welcome another high-profile name. Jon Rahm recently expressed optimism on the \”Subpar\” podcast, expecting Koepka to return and play selected big tournaments. Influential voices like Rory McIlroy also support his reinstatement, with the competition committee led by Tiger Woods holding sway on suspension matters.
Update: It happened as predicted. 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 at TPC Scottsdale is also confirmed.
This is enabled by the recently introduced \”Returning Member Program\”, allowing selected LIV players to regain PGA Tour membership without suspension. Koepka’s recent sporting merits, including the 2023 PGA Championship victory as his fifth major, were considered.
The PGA Tour stated this special rule applies to major winners and Players champions from the last three years, with the deadline on February 2. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp emphasized this opportunity is unique and not a precedent for future cases. This situation may impact other LIV players like Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Cam Smith and cause unease in the LIV Golf League.
Koepka’s penalty for joining LIV is mild: a $5 million donation to the PGA