First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh wants to try again, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf League season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion will stay connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time. This was a mutual agreement, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka, known as a competitor who thrives in high-level sports battles, had limited motivation at LIV events. He switched to LIV in 2022 primarily due to injury concerns about ending his career and to secure a solid retirement payout. Thus, skipping the final contracted season was not surprising, though questions remain about financial arrangements and his ongoing ownership of LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation abounds about which fairways Koepka will next grace. He would be immediately eligible on the DP World Tour, likely with a penalty, or on the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension after the last LIV event, following a significant reduction of previous lifetime bans by former Commissioner Jay Monahan. Why be vindictive when every LIV returnee, especially a prominent one, benefits the more powerful established tour? This key question seems partly answered. According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which had not been extended post-2022, seeking readmission to the players’ circle.
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Any suspension would expire in August, aligning with the end of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship (August 27–30). This timing positions Koepka perfectly for a 2027 comeback as the PGA Tour introduces a compressed schedule of about two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited, top-level player fields, fitting Koepka’s preferences. PGA Tour Enterprises investors would welcome another marquee name.
\”He might need some time, but I think he’ll return to the PGA Tour,\” Jon Rahm recently said on the \”Subpar\” podcast. \”He’ll probably play the minimum, and why not play the big tournaments he likes? If he qualifies or is eligible for high-profile events, he’ll play those too.\” Perhaps the PGA Tour, influenced by Tiger Woods’ competition committee and player directors, may be lenient with Koepka’s suspension, following Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to let him compete immediately.
Update: The news spread quickly Monday evening local time that Koepka is immediately eligible to compete on the PGA Tour, starting with the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in late January, and his participation in the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale is confirmed.
The new \”Returning Member Program,\” established last Thursday, permits selected LIV players reinstatement without suspension. Koepka’s recent sporting achievements, notably his 2023 PGA Championship victory, were considered.
The PGA Tour states this special rule