First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager to play again, Charley Hull launching on YouTube soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf League season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his family. This was amicably agreed upon, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, something he found limited in LIV. In 2022, he joined LIV mainly because he feared his career might end due to injuries and wanted to secure a solid pension fund. Thus, skipping the last contractual season is not surprising, though questions remain whether he had to buy out or return part of his guaranteed salary. He still owns the LIV team Smash GC, which has appointed Talor Gooch as its new captain.
Speculation grows about which tours Koepka will play next — the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible, possibly with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he would have to serve a one-year suspension after his last LIV event, following the softened lifetime bans previously imposed. Why be vindictive when welcoming high-profile LIV returnees benefits the powerful PGA Tour? This question seems partially answered. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported that Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which he did not renew after 2022, aiming to rejoin the playing field.
A potential suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season and the Tour Championship from August 27-30. Koepka would be eligible for 2027, aligning with the PGA Tour’s new schedule featuring about two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited, top-tier fields — an ideal comeback timing for him. Investors at PGA Tour Enterprises, likely sponsoring the new premier league, would welcome such a strong name.
\”He may need some time, but I think he will return to the PGA Tour,\” Jon Rahm said recently on the podcast \”Subpar.\” \”He will likely play at least the minimum and the big tournaments he likes. If he qualifies or gets invited to top events, he will play those too.\” Perhaps the PGA Tour will give a five-time major winner a break. The Player Advisory Council and the competition committee led by Tiger Woods hold sway over suspension decisions and reportedly support Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to reinstate Koepka immediately.
Update: Exactly as expected, it was announced Monday evening local time that Koepka is immediately eligible to play on the PGA Tour again and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in late January. His participation at the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona is also confirmed.
This is made possible by a newly created rule called the \”Returning Member Program,\” introduced last Thursday, allowing selected LIV players to regain PGA Tour membership without suspension. Koepka’s sporting merits, especially his 2023 PGA Championship victory as a fifth major, were duly considered.
The PGA Tour statement says the