First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh returns, Charley Hull to launch YouTube channel soon. 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected with the rival circuit but needs more family time. This was a friendly agreement, stated LIV CEO Scott McNeil. However, Koepka, a competitive player who thrives on top-level competition, was not fully motivated in LIV. He initially joined in 2022 due to injury concerns and to secure retirement funds, so skipping his last contracted season is not surprising though questions remain about contract buyouts and the future ownership of his LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation abounds on where Koepka will next compete: DP World Tour, possibly with a penalty, or on the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension from LIV appearances. The lifetime bans imposed by former Commissioner Jay Monahan have been significantly softened. According to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership and be reinstated into the player’s pool.
A potential suspension would end in August, coinciding with the conclusion of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship. Koepka would be eligible to play in 2027, aligning with the PGA Tour’s new schedule featuring nearly two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited, top-ranked fields—the ideal comeback timing for Koepka and appealing to investors in the new top league backed by PGA Tour Enterprises.
Jon Rahm recently commented on the ‘Subpar’ podcast, suggesting Koepka may take some time but will return to the PGA Tour, likely playing selected big events. With influence from players’ directors and Tiger Woods-led competition committee, following Rory McIlroy’s recommendation, Koepka’s reinstatement seems probable.
Update: It has happened. Monday evening local time, news spread rapidly that Koepka is immediately eligible to compete on the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open end of January in Torrey Pines. His participation in the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale is also confirmed.
The ‘Returning Member Program’, a rule created last Thursday, allows 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 key factors.
The PGA Tour states the rule applies only to major winners and Players Championship victors from the last three years, with a deadline of February 2. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp calls it a unique opportunity, not setting a precedent. This likely unsettles Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith, and causes concern for LIV Golf.
Koepka’s penalty is mild: he must donate $5 million to PGA Tour charity, is excluded from the 2026 FedEx Cup bonus system, and barred for five years from capital participation programs linked to PGA Tour Enterprises.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Start for 2026
Meanwhile, Bryson