First start at the Farmers, Vijay Singh is ready to compete again, Charley Hull launching soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting on February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his family, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka, known as a fierce competitor who thrives on high-level competition, found limited motivation in LIV. Primarily switching to LIV in 2022 due to injury concerns ending his career and for financial reasons, Koepka’s decision to forgo the final contractual season is understandable, though questions remain about potential buyouts or repayments. Meanwhile, he still owns his LIV team Smash GC, with Talor Gooch as the new captain.
Speculation grows about which fairways Koepka will next appear on: the DP World Tour, where he could play immediately likely with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension from his last LIV appearance. However, suspensions imposed by former Commissioner Jay Monahan have been significantly softened. From an ESPN report by Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership after 2022, seeking reinstatement into the players’ circle.
See this post on Instagram
Any suspension would expire in August; though that coincides with the 2026 season finale at the Tour Championship from August 27-30, Koepka would be eligible for 2027 under the PGA Tour’s new compressed schedule featuring nearly two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited fields. This timing suits Koepka perfectly and would please investors in PGA Tour Enterprises, which is likely the bearer of the new top league.
Jon Rahm recently expressed confidence in Koepka’s return on the podcast Subpar, expecting him to play at least the minimum events, especially the major tournaments he favors. With support from the PGA Tour competition committee led by Tiger Woods and player directors, and Rory McIlroy’s vocal backing for Koepka’s immediate return, there’s a strong chance the suspension is overlooked for this five-time major winner.
Update: It happened just as predicted. On Monday evening local time, news spread rapidly that Koepka is immediately eligible to compete on the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open late January in Torrey Pines. Participation at the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona is also confirmed.
This is made possible by a newly created \”Returning Member Program\” rule allowing selected LIV players to regain PGA Tour membership without suspension. Koepka’s sporting merits, particularly his 2023 PGA Championship victory as his fifth major, were significant factors in his case.
The PGA Tour stated the special rule applies to major winners and Players champions from the past three