First start at the Farmers, Vijay Singh returns at 62, Charley Hull launches a YouTube channel. Welcome to The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially opted out of 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. LIV CEO Scott McNeil stated this was a mutual agreement. Koepka is known as a competitor who thrives in high-level competition, something he found limited in LIV Golf. He initially joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns, aiming to secure a comfortable retirement fund. It’s no surprise he skipped the final contract year, though questions remain about buyouts or earnings repayments. He still owns his LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation mounts on which tours Koepka will play next. Whether he will immediately compete on the DP World Tour, possibly with penalties, or return to the PGA Tour after serving a one-year suspension from his last LIV event. The lifetime bans formerly issued were significantly eased by Jay Monahan’s successor, creating pathways for LIV returnees. According to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reinstate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022.
An eventual suspension would end in August, coinciding with the 2026 Tour Championship conclusion. However, under the PGA Tour’s revamped schedule featuring around two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited elite fields starting 2027, Koepka’s re-entry timing would be ideal. This would also be well-received by PGA Tour Enterprises investors backing the new top league.
Jon Rahm recently said on the \”Subpar\” podcast, \”He might need some time, but I think he will return to the PGA Tour. He will probably play at least the minimum, and why not play the tournaments he likes, the big ones. If he then qualifies or gets into the high-profile events, he would play those too.\” The player directors and the competition committee chaired by Tiger Woods have influence over suspensions, with Rory McIlroy recommending Koepka be allowed to play immediately.
Update: The news quickly spread Monday evening that Koepka is immediately eligible to compete on the PGA Tour, starting with the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines, with the WM Phoenix Open already confirmed at TPC Scottsdale, Arizona.
This became possible through a new \”Returning Member Program\” policy created last Thursday, allowing select LIV players to rejoin the PGA Tour membership without suspension. Koepka’s recent sporting merits, especially his 2023 PGA Championship win (his fifth major), were decisive.
The PGA Tour statement clarifies this special rule applies to major and Players Championship winners of the last three years and expires February 2. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp emphasized, \”This is a one-time, clearly defined opportunity and does not set a precedent for future situations. Once this door closes, there is no guarantee this pathway will reopen.\” This decision likely concerns Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith, and unsettles LIV