First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager to compete again, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the competing circuit but needs more time for his family. This was amicably agreed upon, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, which he only partially found in LIV. He switched to LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns and to secure a solid retirement payout. The waiver of his final contractual playing year is thus not surprising, although questions remain regarding potential buyouts or refunds of guaranteed salary. He remains the owner of the LIV team Smash GC, which named Talor Gooch as its new captain.
Speculation arises on which fairways Koepka will appear next. On the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible, possibly against a penalty? Or on the PGA Tour, where he currently serves a one-year suspension since his last LIV appearance, after former commissioner Jay Monahan substantially softened lifetime bans. Why be vindictive, especially since every prominent LIV returnee benefits the PGA Tour? ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported that last Friday Koepka formally applied to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, lost after 2022, and to be reinstated among the players.
An eventual suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship (August 27-30). He would be eligible for 2027 under the PGA Tour’s new schedule of approximately two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited fields—a perfect time for Koepka’s comeback. PGA Tour Enterprise investors would surely welcome another marquee name.
Jon Rahm said on the podcast \”Subpar\”: \”He may need some time, but I think he’ll return to the PGA Tour. He’ll probably play the minimum, and why not the tournaments he likes, the big ones? If qualified for or invited to high-profile events, he would play those too.\” Perhaps the PGA Tour will overlook his suspension given his five major wins, influenced by input from the board, player directors, and the Tiger Woods-led competition committee, who reportedly support Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to allow Koepka’s immediate return.
Update: On Monday evening local time, news spread rapidly 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 Scottsdale, Arizona, has also been confirmed. This is enabled by the newly created \”Returning Member Program,\” allowing selected LIV players to resume PGA Tour membership without suspension. Koepka’s sporting merits, especially his 2023 PGA Championship win as his fifth major, were considered. According to a PGA Tour statement, the special regulation applies to major winners and Players Championship winners of the past three years and ends on February 2. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp emphasized this is a one-time opportunity and not a precedent. This move likely impacts Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and