First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh wants another shot, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has opted out of the LIV Golf League season 2026, 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’s official statement. Koepka is a competitive type who thrives on high-level competition, something he lacked at LIV. His 2022 move to LIV was mainly due to injury concerns about his career ending and securing a good retirement fund. Thus, skipping his final contractual season is not surprising, though questions remain about possible financial settlements and his ownership status in the LIV team Smash GC, which has appointed Talor Gooch as captain.
Speculation is rife about which fairways Koepka will next appear on: the DP World Tour, likely playing immediately with a possible penalty fee, or the PGA Tour, where he would have to serve a one-year suspension after his last LIV appearance until it was sharply reduced from a lifetime ban by former Commissioner Jay Monahan. Why be vindictive when every LIV returnee benefits the longer-established tour? This issue seems partly resolved: ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported that Koepka formally applied to reactivate his PGA Tour membership last Friday, aiming to rejoin the player pool after not renewing post-2022.
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Any suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship from August 27 to 30. Koepka would then be eligible for 2027 when the PGA Tour launches its new schedule of about two dozen $20-million tournaments with limited fields featuring the best players — perfect timing for his comeback and well received by PGA Tour Enterprises investors likely backing the new top league.
\”He may need some time, but I think he will return to the PGA Tour,\” said Jon Rahm on the \”Subpar\” podcast recently. \”He’ll likely play at least the minimum and the tournaments he likes, the big ones. If he qualifies or gets invited to high-profile events, he’ll play those too.\” Perhaps the PGA Tour in Ponte Vedra Beach might overlook the suspension for a five-time major champion, as voting members, player directors, and the rules committee led by Tiger Woods also have input — and Rory McIlroy has recommended allowing Koepka back immediately.
Update: It happened just like that. 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 late January at Torrey Pines. His participation at the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona is also confirmed.
The \”Returning Member Program,\” introduced last Thursday, enables select LIV players to rejoin the PGA Tour without a suspension. Koep