First start at Farmers, Vijay Singh returns, Charley Hull to launch YouTube channel soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his family. This was reportedly agreed amicably, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, something he found somewhat lacking at LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 mainly because injury threatened his career’s end and he wanted to secure a good retirement fund. His decision to forgo the final contract year is thus not surprising, though questions remain about contractual details and his ownership of the LIV Smash GC team, which has appointed Talor Gooch as the new captain.
Speculation is rife about where Koepka will next play—whether on the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible perhaps with a penalty, or on the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension from his last LIV start. The lifetime bans imposed by former commissioner Jay Monahan have been softened. Importantly, ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022.
An eventual suspension would expire in August, aligning with the end of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship scheduled August 27–30. Koepka would be eligible for 2027 when the PGA Tour introduces a compressed schedule of about two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited top-quality fields. This timing suits Koepka’s competitive nature and would appeal to PGA Tour Enterprises investors backing the new premier league.
\”He might need some time, but I think he will return to the PGA Tour,\” said Jon Rahm recently on the podcast ‘Subpar.’ \”He will probably play at least the minimum and why not the tournaments he likes, the big ones. If he then qualifies or gets invites for top events, he will play those too.\” The player directors and the Tiger Woods-led competition committee have influence over the suspension and may follow Rory McIlroy’s suggestion to reinstate Koepka immediately.
Update: This has come to pass. 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 late January at Torrey Pines, with participation at the WM Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Arizona, already confirmed.
This is enabled by the recently created \”Returning Member Program,\” allowing select LIV players to rejoin the PGA Tour without suspension. Koepka’s sporting achievements, particularly his 2023 PGA Championship victory, were considered.
The PGA Tour stated this exception applies to major winners and Players champions in the past three years. The window ends February 2. \”This is a one-time, well-defined opportunity and does not set a precedent for future cases,\” said PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp. This likely impacts Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith and causes concern in LIV Golf.