First start already at the Farmers; Vijay Singh returns; Charley Hull’s upcoming YouTube debut. 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for family. This was reportedly agreed upon amicably, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, something he found limited at LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 due to injury concerns threatening his career and to secure a solid retirement fund. Thus, skipping the last contracted season is unsurprising, although questions remain about whether he had to buy out or repay part of his guaranteed pay, and whether he remains owner of the LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculations abound about where Koepka will compete next. The DP World Tour would grant him immediate eligibility, possibly with a penalty, while the PGA Tour imposes a one-year ban since his last LIV event, following former commissioner Jay Monahan’s eased lifetime bans. The PGA Tour benefits from every returning LIV player, especially stars like Koepka. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported that Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership not extended beyond 2022.
An eventual ban expires in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship from August 27-30. Koepka would be eligible for 2027 under the PGA Tour’s new schedule featuring about two dozen $20 million events with limited, well-stacked fields – ideal timing for his comeback and beneficial to PGA Tour Enterprises investors seeking marquee names.
Jon Rahm recently said on the \”Subpar\” podcast, \”He might need some time, but I think he’ll return to the PGA Tour. He’ll probably play at least the minimum, and why not the big tournaments he likes. If he qualifies for high-profile events or gets invites, he’d play those too.\” Penalties and suspensions involve the board, players’ directors, and Tiger Woods-led competition committee, which reportedly supports Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to allow Koepka’s immediate return.
Update: The news spread quickly Monday evening: Koepka is immediately eligible to play on the PGA Tour and is confirmed to tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines and the WM Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Arizona. This is possible due to the newly created \”Returning Member Program,\” allowing select LIV players to rejoin the PGA Tour without suspension. Koepka’s sporting merits, especially his 2023 PGA Championship win, were pivotal in this decision. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp stated this is a unique opportunity for major and Players winners from the last three years, ending February 2. This precedent may influence other LIV players like Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith, and causes discomfort within LIV Golf.
Koepka’s penalty includes a $5 million donation to PGA Tour charity, exclusion from the 2026 FedEx Cup bonus system, and a five-year ban from the PGA Tour’s equity program tied to investors in PGA