First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh returns, Charley Hull launches on YouTube soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting on February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time. LIV CEO Scott McNeil confirmed this amicable agreement. However, Koepka is a competitor motivated by high-level competition, which he found limited in LIV. Initially, in 2022, he joined LIV primarily due to injury concerns and the opportunity to secure his retirement financially. Thus, his decision to skip the final contracted season raises questions: Did he have to buy out his contract or return part of his guaranteed fee? Does he remain the owner of LIV team Smash GC, which named Talor Gooch as the new captain?
Speculation is rife about where Koepka will next appear. The DP World Tour would grant immediate eligibility, possibly with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension since his last LIV event, following the significant reduction of lifelong bans previously imposed by former Commissioner Jay Monahan. Why be vindictive when every prominent LIV returnee benefits the better-resourced tour? ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reports that last Friday Koepka formally applied to reactivate his PGA Tour membership and be reinstated as a player.
The suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship from August 27-30. Koepka would be eligible to play in 2027, perfectly timed with the PGA Tour’s new schedule featuring about two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited elite fields. This comeback timing suits Koepka well. Investors in PGA Tour Enterprises, likely the new top league’s proprietors, would also welcome another star name.
Jon Rahm recently commented on the podcast \”Subpar\” that Koepka might need some time but would return to the PGA Tour, playing at least the minimum and his preferred big events, qualifying and competing in top tournaments. The PGA Tour’s board, player directors, and the competition committee led by Tiger Woods hold sanction power and may follow Rory McIlroy’s endorsement to reinstate Koepka immediately.
Update: It has happened: news broke Monday evening 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. He is also confirmed for the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, Arizona.
The \”Returning Member Program,\” a new rule created last Thursday, allows select LIV players to rejoin the PGA Tour without suspension. Koepka’s case considered his recent sporting merits, notably his 2023 PGA Championship win as his fifth major.
The PGA Tour stated the waiver applies only to major winners and Players champions from the last three years and ends February 2. CEO Brian Rolapp emphasized this