First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh ready for another run, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf League season starting on February 7 in Riyadh.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 an amicable agreement stated by LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is known as a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, something he found limited in LIV. He initially joined in 2022 largely due to injury concerns and to secure a good retirement fund. Thus, his decision to skip the last contractual season is not surprising, though questions remain around buyouts or salary repayments. Koepka, 35, remains the owner of LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation rages on where Koepka will next compete: 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 from his last LIV event—after previous lifetime bans from former Commissioner Jay Monahan were significantly reduced. Why hold grudges when each LIV returnee strengthens the PGA Tour? According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which had not been renewed after 2022.
Any suspension would end in August, coinciding with the conclusion of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship. Koepka would be eligible to compete in 2027 under the PGA Tour’s new compressed schedule featuring nearly two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited, top-tier fields—a perfect comeback scenario. This would also be welcomed by PGA Tour Enterprises investors backing the new top league.
Jon Rahm recently said on the \”Subpar\” podcast, \”He may need some time, but I think he will return to the PGA Tour. He’ll probably play at least the minimum, and why not the tournaments he likes, the big ones? If he qualifies or is invited to premier tournaments, he would play those too.\” Perhaps the PGA Tour will overlook some restrictions for the five-time major winner, as decisions on suspensions involve the board, player directors, and Tiger Woods-led competition committee—following Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to reinstate Koepka immediately.
Update: It happened as predicted. Monday evening local time, news spread fast 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. His participation at the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale is also confirmed.
This is enabled by the \”Returning Member Program,\” a new rule established last Thursday allowing selected LIV players to regain PGA Tour membership without suspension. Koepka’s sporting merits were considered, notably his 2023 PGA Championship win as his fifth major.
The PGA Tour statement confirms this special rule applies