First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager to play again, Charley Hull launching her own 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh.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 champion will remain affiliated with the competing circuit but needs more time for his family, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s statement. Koepka, known as a competitive athlete driven by high-level competition, was not fully motivated playing LIV, having joined mainly in 2022 due to injury concerns and to secure a substantial retirement fund. Questions remain about whether he had to buy out of his contract or repay part of his guaranteed salary. Despite stepping back, he remains owner of the LIV team Smash GC, which recently appointed Talor Gooch as captain.
Speculation continues about which tours Koepka will appear on next. He could immediately play on the DP World Tour—possibly with a penalty—or return to the PGA Tour where he faces a one-year suspension following his last LIV appearance, after lifetime bans were softened by former Commissioner Jay Monahan. According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which had not been renewed since 2022.
Any suspension would end in August 2026, coinciding with the PGA Tour’s new condensed schedule featuring around two dozen $20 million events with limited select fields—ideal timing for Koepka’s return. This would also please investors in PGA Tour Enterprises, expecting its new top league to benefit from such a high-profile name.
Jon Rahm recently said on the \”Subpar\” podcast, \”He might take some time, but I think he’ll return to the PGA Tour. He’ll likely play the minimum and probably the big tournaments he enjoys. If he qualifies for or can enter other major events, he’ll play those too.\” The Player Advisory Council and the Tiger Woods-led competition committee, who influence suspension decisions, reportedly support Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to allow Koepka’s immediate return.
Update: Koepka is now officially eligible to compete on the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in late January, with participation confirmed for the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale. This was enabled by the \”Returning Member Program,\” introduced last Thursday, allowing select LIV players to rejoin the PGA Tour without suspension. Koepka’s recent accomplishments, including the 2023 PGA Championship win as his fifth major, were considered.
The PGA Tour indicated this special rule applies to major winners and Players Championship victors from the past three years and expires February 2. CEO Brian Rolapp emphasized this is a one-time exceptional opportunity without precedent or guarantee of recurrence, causing speculation among Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Cam Smith, and LIV Golf about the future.
Koepka’s penalty includes a $5 million donation to PGA Tour charity, exclusion from the 2026 FedEx Cup bonus, and a five-year ban from the PGA Tour’s capital investment program.
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