First start at the Farmers, Vijay Singh ready for a comeback, Charley Hull to launch YouTube channel soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the LIV Golf League for the 2026 season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion will remain connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his family. This was a friendly agreement according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka, known as a competitive type who thrives in top-level competition, was less motivated in LIV. He originally joined LIV in 2022 mainly because of injuries threatening his career and the opportunity for a secure retirement fund. Therefore, skipping his final contractual season is understandable though some questions remain, such as whether he had to pay a buyout or return part of his guaranteed salary. It’s unclear if he still owns his LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation is growing about where Koepka will play next. The DP World Tour could immediately welcome him, possibly with a penalty fee. On the PGA Tour, he faces a one-year suspension since his last LIV event, as the lifetime bans imposed by former commissioner Jay Monahan were significantly eased. Allowing prominent LIV returnees bolsters the PGA Tour’s competitive position. ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reported that last Friday Koepka formally applied to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not extended after 2022, aiming to be reinstated as a player.
An eventual suspension would end in August, coinciding with the close of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship from August 27-30. Koepka would then be eligible for the 2027 season, which is set to feature a compressed schedule of about two dozen $20 million-dollar tournaments with limited and elite fields — an ideal comeback moment fitting Koepka’s style. PGA Tour Enterprises investors would surely welcome another big name in the new top league.
Jon Rahm recently said in 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 events he likes, the big ones? If he qualifies or gets into premier events, he’ll play those.\” Perhaps PGA Tour officials, including player directors and Tiger Woods-led competition committee, will overlook the suspension for the five-time major winner, following Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to reinstate Koepka immediately.
Update: That has happened. Monday evening local time, news spread rapidly that Koepka is immediately eligible again for 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, Arizona, is also confirmed.
Making this possible is the newly created \”Returning Member Program\” introduced last Thursday, allowing select LIV players to regain PGA Tour membership without suspension. Koepka’s sporting merits, especially his 2023 PGA Championship win as his fifth major, were considered.
The PGA Tour’s statement notes the exemption applies to major and Players Championship winners from the last three years,