First start already at the Farmers Insurance Open, Vijay Singh makes a comeback, Charley Hull launches YouTube channel. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time. This was reportedly a friendly agreement, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka, known as a competitor motivated by high-level sport, showed limited enthusiasm at LIV. He switched to the Saudi-backed league in 2022 due to injury concerns and to secure a retirement fund. Thus, skipping the last contract year is not surprising, although questions remain about buyouts or guaranteed payments. He still owns the LIV Smash GC team, with Talor Gooch as the new captain.
Speculation grows about where Koepka will compete next — DP World Tour with immediate eligibility, likely paying a penalty, or PGA Tour where he faces a one-year suspension after his last LIV appearance. The life bans previously imposed have been significantly softened. ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reported that Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which had not been extended after 2022.
An eventual suspension would end in August, coinciding with the 2026 season finale at the Tour Championship (Aug 27–30). Koepka would be eligible for 2027 when the PGA Tour launches a compressed schedule of roughly two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited, elite fields — ideal timing for his return and attractive for PGA Tour Enterprises investors.
Jon Rahm recently suggested on the podcast \”Subpar\” that Koepka will return, likely playing minimally and focusing on tournaments he prefers. With endorsements from Rory McIlroy and the PGA Tour competition committee led by Tiger Woods, Koepka may receive leniency on his suspension.
Update: Koepka was granted immediate PGA Tour eligibility Monday evening and will compete at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines. His participation at the WM Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Arizona is also confirmed. Made possible by the \”Returning Member Program,\” a new rule allowing selected LIV players to rejoin the PGA Tour without suspension, recognizing recent major victories like Koepka’s 2023 PGA Championship. The PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp called this a one-time opportunity, emphasizing no precedent will be set, causing concern among LIV players like Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith. Koepka will pay a $5 million charity fee, be excluded from the 2026 FedEx Cup bonus system, and be barred from the PGA Tour’s equity program for five years.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Start in 2026
Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed his participation in the 2026 LIV Golf League. His Crushers team, including Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri, continues into its fifth season. No general contract extension was announced, fueling speculation about retention negotiations behind the scenes following Koepka’s departure.