First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh ready to compete again, and Charley Hull launching on YouTube soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially opted out of 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 his family. This was amicably agreed upon according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. However, Koepka is a competitor who thrives in high-level competition, which he lacked in LIV. He joined LIV in 2022 primarily due to injury concerns near the end of his career and to secure a solid retirement fund. His decision to skip the final contract year is not surprising though some questions remain, such as whether he had to buy himself out or return part of his guaranteed salary. He is still the owner of the LIV Smash GC team, with Talor Gooch newly appointed captain.
Speculation is rife about which fairways Koepka will play next – the DP World Tour where he would be eligible immediately, possibly for a penalty, or the PGA Tour where he would serve a one-year suspension from his last LIV appearance. The lifetime bans issued by former Commissioner Jay Monahan have been significantly softened. Why hold grudges when every returning LIV player, especially a notable one, benefits the dominant PGA Tour? This question seems partly answered. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported that Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership after 2022 and be reinstated into the player pool.
His suspension could end in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship from August 27-30. Koepka would be eligible for 2027, when the PGA Tour plans a compressed schedule of about two dozen $20 million tournaments with exclusive fields. The timing is perfect for a comeback, fitting Koepka’s style. The investors in PGA Tour Enterprises would surely welcome another high-profile name. Jon Rahm recently expressed in the ‘Subpar’ podcast, ‘He might need some time, but I think Koepka will return to the PGA Tour. He’ll probably play at least the minimum and why not his favorite big events? If he can qualify or participate in top tournaments, he will play those too.’ Moreover, the player board, competition committee led by Tiger Woods, and fan majority (according to a non-representative ‘Bunkered’ survey) seem inclined to overlook the suspension for a five-time major winner, following