First start already at the Farmers; Vijay Singh eager to compete again; Charley Hull soon launching 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time, according to an amicable agreement stated by LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is a competitor who thrives under high-level competition, which he found limited at LIV. He joined in 2022 primarily due to injury concerns near career end and to secure substantial retirement money. This explains his opt-out from the final contract season, though questions linger about buyouts or salary returns and his continued ownership of LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation continues about which tours Koepka will play on next: DP World Tour, possibly with penalties, or PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension from last LIV events now softened following former commissioner Jay Monahan’s earlier lifetime bans. According to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, ending his hiatus since 2022.
An eventual suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the 2026 season finale at the Tour Championship. Koepka would be eligible in 2027 under the PGA Tour’s revamped schedule featuring approximately two dozen $20 million events with limited, star-studded fields—the ideal time for his comeback. PGA Tour Enterprises investors would welcome another marquee name.
Jon Rahm recently stated on the \”Subpar\” podcast, \”He might need some time, but I think he’ll return to the PGA Tour. He’ll probably play the minimum, focusing on big events he likes. If he qualifies or gets invited to premier tournaments, he’ll compete in those.\” The decision on suspensions involves the PGA Board, player directors, and Tiger Woods-led competition committee, which reportedly favors reinstating Koepka as per Rory McIlroy’s recommendation.
Update: It happened: News spread Monday evening that Koepka is immediately eligible to play on the PGA Tour, debuting at the Farmers Insurance Open in Torrey Pines in late January. He is also confirmed for the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale.
Made possible by the newly created \”Returning Member Program\” allowing select LIV players to rejoin the PGA Tour without suspension, considering Koepka’s sporting merits, including his 2023 PGA Championship win as his fifth major.
The PGA Tour statement notes this special provision applies to major and Players champions from the past three years, ending February 2, and is a singular opportunity without precedent for future cases, said CEO Brian Rolapp. This impacts players like Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith and unsettles LIV Golf.
Koepka’s penalty for joining LIV is mild: a $5 million charity donation to the PGA Tour, exclusion from the 2026 FedEx Cup bonus system, and five-year exclusion from PGA Tour Enterprises capital programs linked to investor funds.