First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager to play again, Charley Hull to launch YouTube channel soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion will remain connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for family. LIV CEO Scott McNeil stated this is a mutual agreement. Koepka is a competitive player who thrives on high-level competition, something he lacked at LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 due to injury concerns and to secure a strong retirement fund. His skipping the last contract year raises questions: Did he have to buy out, return part of his guaranteed money? Is he still an owner of LIV team Smash GC, which has named Talor Gooch captain?
Speculation is rife about which fairways Koepka will soon play. The DP World Tour allows immediate eligibility, possibly with a penalty. The PGA Tour imposed a one-year suspension after his last LIV event, softened from a lifetime ban by former Commissioner Jay Monahan. Returning to PGA benefits the Tour’s leverage, and Koepka filed to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, aiming to rejoin the player pool, per ESPN’s Mark Schlabach.
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The suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship (Aug 27-30). Koepka would then be eligible for the PGA Tour’s new schedule starting in 2027, featuring about two dozen $20 million events with limited fields, ideal for his return. This move would also please the PGA Tour Enterprises investors backing this elite league.
Jon Rahm recently said on the \”Subpar\” podcast, \”He might need some time, but I think he’ll come back to the PGA Tour. He’ll probably play at least the minimum, and why not play the tournaments he likes, the big ones? If he qualifies for high-profile events, he’d play those too.\” The PGA Tour’s player directors and the Tiger Woods-led competition committee, including Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to allow Koepka back, may ease his return.
Update: Koepka is