First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh ready to compete again, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf League season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is known as a competitor who thrives in high-level contests, which he lacked at LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 due to injury concerns and to secure a comfortable retirement fund. Questions remain whether he had to buy out or repay part of his guaranteed salary, and if he remains owner of the LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation grows about where Koepka will next play. He would be immediately eligible on the DP World Tour, possibly with penalties, or on the PGA Tour, where he must serve a one-year suspension since his last LIV event after lifetime bans imposed by former Commissioner Jay Monahan were softened. This situation seems partly resolved: ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reports Koepka formally requested last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which lapsed after 2022, to rejoin the playing field.
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An eventual suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the 2026 season ending with the Tour Championship from August 27-30. Koepka would be eligible for 2027, as the PGA Tour introduces a new compressed schedule of about two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited elite fields, the perfect comeback timing. PGA Tour Enterprises investors would welcome another headline name.
\”He may need some time, but I think he will return to the PGA Tour,\” said Jon Rahm recently in the \”Subpar\” podcast. \”He will probably at least play the minimum, and why not the tournaments he likes, the big ones. If he qualifies or is invited to top events, he would play those too.\” Perhaps the PGA Tour, including Tiger Woods-led competition committee and player directors, will waive some suspension for the five-time major champ, following Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to let Koepka play immediately.
Update: Exactly so. Monday evening local time, it spread quickly 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 in the WM Phoenix Open at TPC