First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager to compete again, Charley Hull to launch YouTube channel soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially opted out of the LIV Golf League season 2026, which kicks off on February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will stay connected to the competing circuit but needs more family time. This was reportedly mutually agreed upon, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. However, Koepka is known to thrive on high-level competitive fights, something he found limited in LIV. He mainly joined LIV in 2022 due to injury concerns threatening his career and to secure a solid retirement fund. Thus, skipping the last contracted season is not surprising, though questions remain if he had to buy out or repay part of his guaranteed salary. He also remains the owner of LIV team Smash GC, which named Talor Gooch as the new captain.
Speculation runs high about which fairways Koepka will soon grace. The DP World Tour could grant him immediate playing rights, possibly with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension since his last LIV appearance, following softening of the lifetime bans handed down by former Commissioner Jay Monahan. It makes sense not to be vindictive since every LIV returnee, especially a high-profile one, benefits the established Tour. According to ESPN reporter Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which had not been renewed post-2022, to rejoin the player ranks.
Koepka’s suspension would end in August, coinciding with the conclusion of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship from August 27-30. He would then be eligible to compete in 2027 under the PGA Tour’s compressed schedule of nearly two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited fields, an ideal comeback moment fitting Koepka’s style. PGA Tour Enterprises investors, likely the backers of the new top league, would welcome another marquee name.
Jon Rahm recently expressed 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, maybe the tournaments he likes, the majors. If he qualifies or gets into high-profile events, he’ll play those too.\” There may be leniency in Ponte Vedra Beach given Koepka’s five major titles; the suspension decision