First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager to return, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the LIV Golf League season 2026 starting on February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion will stay connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his family. This was the amicable agreement, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, which he found only limited at LIV. He had joined LIV in 2022 primarily because of injury concerns about ending his career and to secure a solid retirement payout. Thus, skipping the final contractual season isn’t surprising, though questions remain about financial settlements. Koepka remains the owner of his LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation is growing about where Koepka will play next — the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible perhaps with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he would have to serve a one-year suspension from his last LIV event, as lifetime bans imposed by former Commissioner Jay Monahan were significantly softened. Why be vindictive when every LIV returnee benefits the long-dominant rival tour? This question seems partly answered. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported last Friday that Koepka formally applied to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022, seeking to rejoin the players’ group.
An eventual suspension would end in August, coinciding with the 2026 PGA Tour Championship from August 27-30. Koepka would be eligible for 2027 when the PGA Tour introduces its condensed schedule of nearly two dozen $20-million tournaments with elite limited fields — an ideal time for his comeback. This would also please investors in PGA Tour Enterprises, likely the new top league’s backers.
\”He might need some time, but I think he’ll return to the PGA Tour,\” said Jon Rahm recently on the ‘Subpar’ podcast. \”He’ll probably play at least the minimum, the tournaments he likes, the big ones. If he qualifies or gets into top events, he’ll play those.\” Importantly, given Koepka’s stature, the PGA Tour’s board, player directors, and the competition committee led by Tiger Woods — who follows Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to allow Koepka to play immediately — might overlook the suspension. Fans seem to agree, according to a non-representative poll by Bunkered magazine.
Update: \”And perhaps the five-time major champion gets a break at Ponte Vedra Beach\” – just as speculated. News spread quickly that Koepka is now 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 in the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, Arizona, is also confirmed.
This is made possible by a newly introduced ‘Returning Member Program’ allowing select LIV players to regain PGA Tour membership without suspension.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Start for 2026
Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed he will compete