First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh also wants to give it another go, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the competing circuit but needs more family time. LIV CEO Scott McNeil stated this was a mutual agreement. However, Koepka is known as a fiercely competitive player who thrives only in high-level competition, something he found limited in LIV. Koepka switched to LIV in 2022 mainly due to injuries that threatened to end his career and to secure a comfortable retirement fund. Therefore, his skipping the last contracted season is not surprising, although questions remain about whether he had to pay a buyout or refund part of his guaranteed salary. Still, he remains the owner of his LIV team Smash GC, which recently named Talor Gooch as captain.
Speculation grows about where Koepka will compete next—DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible likely with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension following his last LIV participation after lifetime bans were softened by former Commissioner Jay Monahan. But why be vindictive when every LIV returnee benefits the more powerful PGA Tour? ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported that Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which had lapsed after 2022.
An eventual suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the Tour Championship ending the 2026 season. Koepka would be eligible for the 2027 season, perfectly timed with the PGA Tour’s new condensed schedule featuring nearly two dozen $20 million tournaments with elite limited fields—a much-suited comeback scenario. This would also appeal to investors in PGA Tour Enterprises, the probable backers of the new top league, eager to add another star name.
Jon Rahm recently expressed in the \”Subpar\” podcast, \”He might need some time, but I think he’ll return to the PGA Tour. He will probably at least play the minimum, and why not the events he likes, the big ones. If he qualifies or is invited to top events, he would play those as well.\” There might be some leniency for the five-time major champion, since player directors and the competition committee led by Tiger Woods have the say on suspensions, aligning with Rory McIlroy’s recommendation for Koepka’s immediate reinstatement.
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 in late January at Torrey Pines. His participation at the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona is also confirmed.
This was enabled by the \”Returning Member Program\”, a new rule created last Thursday allowing selected LIV players to rejoin the PGA Tour without suspension. For Koepka, his sporting merits especially the 2023 PGA Championship as his fifth major, were taken into account.
The PGA Tour statement says the special provision applies to