First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh ready to compete again, Charley Hull launching her own YouTube channel soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh. The five-time major winner will remain associated with the competing circuit but wants more time for his family, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s friendly statement. Koepka, known as a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, was not fully motivated playing LIV events. Having joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns and to secure a solid retirement fund, his skipping the last contractual season is not surprising, although questions remain about financial settlements and ownership of his LIV team Smash GC.
Speculation is rife about where Koepka will play next, whether on the DP World Tour where he would be immediately eligible, possibly paying a penalty, or on the PGA Tour where he faces a one-year suspension after his last LIV appearance, now softened from an initial lifetime ban. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported Koepka formally applied last Friday to reinstate his PGA Tour membership, seeking reentry into the player pool.
Any suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the 2026 season ending at the Tour Championship August 27-30. Koepka would then be eligible for the PGA Tour’s new condensed schedule featuring about two dozen $20 million events with limited elite fields starting in 2027, a perfect moment for his comeback. This would also please investors behind PGA Tour Enterprises, which is expected to support the top league.
Jon Rahm recently expressed confidence that Koepka will return, predicting he would play minimum events initially and the big tournaments he prefers. The PGA Tour’s board, player directors, and Tiger Woods-led competition committee reportedly hold influence over any suspension leniency, with Rory McIlroy endorsing Koepka’s immediate return.
Update: It has now happened: Koepka is immediately eligible for the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines, with the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale already confirmed.
This was enabled by the newly created \”Returning Member Program\” allowing select LIV players to regain PGA Tour membership without suspension, taking Koepka’s recent sporting merits into account, especially his 2023 PGA Championship victory as a fifth major.
The PGA Tour stated the special rule applies to major and Players winners from the last three years, expiring February 2. \”This is a one-time defined opportunity and does not set a precedent,\” said CEO Brian Rolapp. This development likely concerns Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith and causes discomfort within LIV Golf.
Koepka’s penalty for joining LIV is mild: a $5 million charity donation, exclusion from 2026 FedEx Cup bonus and a five-year ban from equity participation in PGA Tour Enterprises.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Start for 2026
Meanwhile, Bry