First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh back in action, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion stays connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his family. This was amicably agreed upon, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is a competitor who thrives in high-level sporting contests and gets fired up, something he lacked at LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 mainly because of injury concerns threatening his career and to secure a good retirement fund. Thus, skipping the last contracted season is not surprising, although questions remain about a possible buyout or repayment of guaranteed salary. Is the 35-year-old still owner of LIV team Smash GC, which recently appointed Talor Gooch as new captain?
Speculations abound about where Koepka will play next; on the DP World Tour where he would be immediately eligible, possibly paying a fine, or on the PGA Tour where he faces a one-year suspension after his last LIV appearance, following a significant reduction of lifetime bans imposed by former commissioner Jay Monahan. It makes little sense to be vindictive when every LIV returnee, especially a high-profile one, benefits the longer-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 renewed after 2022, to rejoin the players’ ranks.
An eventual suspension would expire in August 2026. Although the 2026 season concludes with the Tour Championship from August 27-30, Koepka would be eligible for 2027 under the PGA Tour’s new schedule featuring about two dozen $20 million tournaments with elite limited fields — the perfect timing for a comeback. PGA Tour Enterprises investors would surely welcome another star name.
Jon Rahm recently said on the \”Subpar\” podcast, \”He might need some time, but I think he’ll return to the PGA Tour. He’ll probably play at least the minimum, and why not the tournaments he likes, the big ones. If he qualifies or is invited to high-profile events, he’ll play those too.\” There could be some leniency given Koepka’s status; the decision involves the board, player directors, and a competition committee led by Tiger Woods, who supports Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to let Koepka play immediately.
Update: News spread rapidly Monday evening that Koepka is immediately eligible to play on the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in late January. His participation in the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona is also confirmed.
This was enabled by the \”Returning Member Program,\” a rule created the previous Thursday allowing select LIV players to regain PGA Tour membership without suspension. Koepka’s merits, including his 2023 PGA Championship win, qualified him for this exception.
The PGA Tour stated this opportunity applies to major winners and Players Championship victors from the last three years, ending