First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh ready to compete again, Charley Hull launching on YouTube soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time.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 a friendly agreement, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is a competitor who is most motivated and fired up at the highest level of competition, which LIV lacked for him. He originally joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns thinking his career was ending and to secure a good retirement fund. His skipping the final contracted season is therefore not surprising, though questions remain about contractual buyouts and his ownership status of LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation abounds about which tour Koepka will next appear on. The DP World Tour could welcome him immediately, likely with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he has a one-year suspension since his last LIV start, following a significant reduction of life bans by former commissioner Jay Monahan. Why hold grudges when every returning LIV player, especially a star like Koepka, benefits the tour with more leverage? ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reported that Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership after it lapsed in 2022.
An eventual suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season’s Tour Championship from August 27-30. However, Koepka would be eligible for the 2027 season under the PGA Tour’s new schedule, featuring about two dozen $20-million tournaments with limited, top player fields—the perfect timing for his comeback. PGA Tour Enterprises’ investors would undoubtedly welcome a marquee name like Koepka.
Jon Rahm recently opined on the ‘Subpar’ podcast, \”He might need some time, but I think he will return to the PGA Tour. He’ll probably play at least the minimum, maybe the tournaments he likes, the big ones. If he qualifies or is allowed to enter high-profile events, he would play those too.\” It is also possible the PGA Tour’s boards, player directors, and Tiger Woods-led competition committee, following Rory McIlroy’s recommendation, might overlook the suspension for a five-time major champion.
Update: The news spread rapidly 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. His participation at the WM Phoenix Open in Scottsdale is also confirmed.
This was enabled by the \”Returning Member Program,\” a new rule introduced last Thursday permitting select LIV players to regain PGA Tour membership without suspension. Koepka’s sporting merits, especially his 2023 PGA Championship victory as his fifth major, were recognized in this case.
The PGA Tour stated that this special rule applies only to major winners and Players Champions from the past three years, expiring on February 2. \”This is a one-time, clearly defined opportunity and does not set a precedent for future cases,\” said PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp. This decision