First start at the Farmers, Vijay Singh returns, Charley Hull launches YouTube channel. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time. This was reportedly a friendly agreement according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, which he found limited at LIV. He originally joined LIV in 2022 due to injuries threatening his career, seeking financial security for retirement. His choice to skip his final contractual season raises questions: did he have to buy out or repay part of his guaranteed salary? Does the 35-year-old remain owner of his LIV team Smash GC, which recently named Talor Gooch captain?
Speculation centers on where Koepka will next compete — the DP World Tour, where immediate eligibility is possible likely with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension since his last LIV event, after previous lifetime bans were softened. Why hold grudges when prominent LIV returnees benefit the dominant PGA Tour? ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, hoping for reinstatement.
An eventual suspension would expire in August, right at the close of the 2026 season with the Tour Championship from August 27–30. Koepka would be eligible for 2027 when the PGA Tour launches a new schedule of about two dozen $20 million events with limited elite fields — a perfect time for his return. Investors behind PGA Tour Enterprises would welcome such a high-profile name.
\”He may need some time, but I think he will return to the PGA Tour,\” Jon Rahm recently said on the \”Subpar\” podcast. \”He’ll probably play at least the minimum, focusing on his favorite big tournaments. If he qualifies for other top events, he’ll play them too.\” The PGA Tour’s board, player directors, and Tiger Woods-led competition committee, influenced by Rory McIlroy’s recommendation, may waive restrictions on Koepka, allowing his immediate return.
Update: That’s exactly what happened. On Monday evening local time, news spread rapidly that Koepka is immediately eligible to play on the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines. His participation at the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona is also confirmed.
This became possible through a new rule called the \”Returning Member Program\”, created last Thursday, allowing selected LIV players to regain PGA Tour membership without suspension. Koepka’s sporting merits, particularly his 2023 PGA Championship win, were considered.
The PGA Tour states this special eligibility applies to major and Players champions from the last three years and expires February 2. \”This is a one-time, clearly defined opportunity and not a precedent for future cases,\” said PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp. This development may concern Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith and unsettle LIV Golf League.
Koepka’s penalty for joining