First start at the Farmers, Vijay Singh returns to compete, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for family. LIV CEO Scott McNeil confirmed this was a friendly agreement. Koepka is a competitive type, motivated mainly by top-level competition, something he found limited at LIV. He switched to Saudi Arabia’s circuit in 2022 partly due to injury concerns and to secure a retirement fund. Questions remain if he had to buy out of his contract or refund part of his guaranteed salary. Koepka, 35, remains the owner of the LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation grows about where Koepka will play next. The DP World Tour would grant instant eligibility, possibly with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension from his last LIV appearance, though lifetime bans were significantly softened. Returning to the PGA Tour benefits both Koepka and the tour. ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reports Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022.
An eventual suspension would end in August 2026, aligning with the season end at the Tour Championship. Koepka would be eligible for 2027 when the PGA introduces a new schedule with about two dozen $20 million tournaments featuring limited, elite fields—the perfect comeback timing. Investors in PGA Tour Enterprises would welcome such a star.
Jon Rahm recently expressed optimism about Koepka’s return on the \”Subpar\” podcast, expecting Koepka to play select big events. Rory McIlroy has recommended letting Koepka play immediately, and the decision involves the board, player directors, and the Tiger Woods-led competition committee.
Update: It happened: Monday evening news spread rapidly that Koepka is immediately eligible for the PGA Tour and will compete at the Farmers Insurance Open in Torrey Pines in late January. His participation at the WM Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Arizona, is also confirmed.
This is enabled by the newly created \”Returning Member Program,\” allowing selected LIV players to rejoin the PGA Tour without suspension. Koepka’s recent sporting merits, especially the 2023 PGA Championship title, were key to this decision.
The PGA Tour states this special rule applies to major winners and Players champions from the last three years, ending on February 2. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp says, \”This is a one-time, clearly defined opportunity without a precedent for future cases.\” This sets a high bar and signals uncertainty for others like Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith and causes unease in LIV Golf.
Koepka’s penalty for crossing to LIV is mild: a $5 million donation to the PGA Tour charity, exclusion from the 2026 FedEx Cup bonus system, and five years’ exclusion from the PGA Tour Enterprises equity program.