First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh is ready for a comeback, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. 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 winner will stay connected to the rival circuit but wants more family time. This was a friendly agreement, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeill’s official statement. Koepka is a competitor who gets motivated and fired up only by high-level competition, which LIV provided only to a limited extent. He moved in 2022 mainly because he thought his career was ending due to injuries and wanted a substantial retirement fund. Thus, skipping his last contractual season is not surprising, though questions remain. Did he have to buy out his contract or pay back part of the guarantee? Does the 35-year-old remain owner of his LIV team Smash GC, which has already appointed Talor Gooch as new captain?
Speculations arise about which fairways Koepka will play on next—DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible, possibly against a penalty? Or the PGA Tour, where he would have to serve a one-year suspension from his last LIV appearance, as the life bans imposed by former Commissioner Jay Monahan have been drastically softened? Why be vindictive when every LIV returnee, especially a prominent one, benefits the longer-established Tour? This key question seems partially answered. According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not extended after 2022, and be readmitted to the player pool.
An eventual suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship from August 27-30. Koepka would be eligible for 2027 if the PGA Tour implements its new schedule compressing nearly two dozen $20 million tournaments with fully limited exclusive fields—the perfect time for a comeback, just to Koepka’s liking. Investors in PGA Tour Enterprises, likely the new top league’s backers, would welcome another strong name.
\”He might need some time, but I think he’ll return to the PGA Tour,\” Jon Rahm said recently on the \”Subpar\” podcast. \”He’ll probably play at least the minimum, and why not the tournaments he likes, the big ones. If he then qualifies or is eligible for high-profile events, he would play those too.\” Maybe the PGA Tour will be lenient for a five-time major champion—besides the board, players’ directors and the Tiger Woods-led competition committee influence suspension decisions and reportedly follow Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to let Koepka play again immediately.
Update: This has happened: On Monday evening local time, news spread rapidly that Koepka is immediately eligible again for the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines at the end of January. His participation in the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona is also confirmed.
This is enabled by the \”Returning Member Program,\” a new rule created last Thursday that allows select LIV players to regain PGA Tour membership without suspension.