First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh makes a comeback, Charley Hull to debut on YouTube soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has opted out of the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion will stay connected to the competing circuit but needs more time for family, according to a friendly agreement stated by LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is known as a competitor who thrives in high-level competition, which he found limited in LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 due to injury concerns and to secure retirement earnings. Questions remain whether he had to buy out his contract or return part of his guaranteed pay. Koepka remains owner of LIV team Smash GC, which recently appointed Talor Gooch as captain.
Speculation surrounds which tours Koepka will appear on next. He could play on the DP World Tour immediately, possibly facing a penalty, or return to the PGA Tour where he faces a one-year suspension from the last LIV event. The PGA Tour’s lifetime bans have been softened, allowing potential returns. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported Koepka applied formally last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership after not renewing in 2022.
An eventual ban would expire in August, by which time the 2026 season concludes with the Tour Championship August 27-30. Koepka would be eligible for 2027, with the PGA Tour’s new schedule featuring nearly two dozen $20 million events with limited elite fields. This timing suits Koepka and would appeal to investors behind PGA Tour Enterprises. Jon Rahm recently expressed belief Koepka will return, playing select big events. The PGA Board, player directors, and Tiger Woods-led competition committee, who hold suspension authority, may waive restrictions, especially following Rory McIlroy’s support for Koepka’s immediate return.
Update: It has happened. On Monday evening local time, news spread that Koepka is immediately eligible for the PGA Tour and will play at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines late January. His participation in the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale is also confirmed.
This is enabled by the newly created \”Returning Member Program\” allowing select LIV players membership reinstatement without suspension. Koepka’s recent 2023 PGA Championship win as a fifth major was a key factor. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp stated the program applies only to major winners and Players champions over the past three years, with the deadline February 2. He called it a one-time opportunity with no guarantee of future repetition, a move that may concern players like Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith, and LIV Golf.
Koepka’s penalty for joining LIV is mild: a $5 million donation to PGA Tour charity, exclusion from the 2026 FedEx Cup bonus system, and a five-year bar from the PGA Tour’s equity program tied to PGA Tour Enterprises investors.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Return for 2026
Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed he will compete in the 2026 LIV Golf season. His Crushers