First start at Farmers, Vijay Singh seeks a comeback, 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf League season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more family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. This was reportedly agreed amicably, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. However, Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, which LIV did not fully satisfy. He switched in 2022 mainly because of injury concerns and to secure a good retirement fund. Thus, skipping the last contractual season is not surprising, though questions remain about possible buyouts or partial returns of guaranteed pay. Whether the 35-year-old remains owner of the LIV team Smash GC, which recently appointed Talor Gooch as captain, is unknown.
Speculations grow on which fairways Koepka will next appear. On the DP World Tour, where he is immediately eligible—possibly with penalties? Or on the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension following his last LIV participation, after the lifetime bans imposed by former Commissioner Jay Monahan were considerably softened? Why be vindictive when prominent LIV returnees benefit the longer-established PGA Tour? This key question seems partly answered. According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022, hoping to rejoin the player pool.
An eventual ban would expire in August. The 2026 season also concludes then with the Tour Championship from August 27–30. Koepka would be eligible to play in 2027, when the PGA Tour plans a compressed schedule with around two dozen $20 million tournaments featuring top limited fields—a perfect time for Koepka’s return and appealing to PGA Tour Enterprises investors likely backing the new top league.
\”He might need some time, but I think he will return to the PGA Tour,\” said Jon Rahm recently on the ‘Subpar’ podcast. \”He will probably play at least the minimum and why not the big tournaments he likes. If he qualifies or gets invited to elite events, he would participate in those, too.\” Possibly the five-time major winner might get some leniency at Ponte Vedra Beach, where the board, player directors, and Tiger Woods-led competition committee have a say on suspensions. Rory McIlroy, advocating for Koepka’s immediate return, influences this decision.
Update: It happened as expected. On Monday evening local time, news spread fast that Koepka is immediately eligible to compete again on the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in late January. His participation at the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, Arizona, is also 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 merits were recognized, especially his 2023 PGA Championship as his fifth major.
The PGA Tour states the special rule applies to major and Players Championship winners of the past three years. The deadline