First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh wants to try again, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially opted out of the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh. The five-time major winner intends to stay connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time, according to a friendly agreement stated by LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka, a competitive type who thrives under high-level competition, was reportedly less motivated at LIV. Having switched to the Saudi-backed league in 2022 due to injury concerns and a desire to secure retirement funds, his waiver of the last contract season is not surprising though questions remain about financial settlements and his ownership status with LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculations abound on which fairways Koepka will play next: DP World Tour, where immediate eligibility might come with penalties, or PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension from his last LIV event, after lifetime bans were softened. Returning to the PGA Tour benefits the established circuit and recent news suggests Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, according to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach.
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Any suspension would end in August 2026, coinciding with the Tour Championship’s conclusion. Koepka would be eligible for 2027, aligning perfectly with the PGA Tour’s condensed schedule featuring nearly two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited elite fields, making it an ideal re-entry point. Top investors in PGA Tour Enterprises would welcome this star name. Jon Rahm recently expressed confidence in Koepka’s PGA Tour return, expecting he might at least play select preferred major events, potentially softened by the PGA Tour’s competition committee led by Tiger Woods and recommendations from Rory McIlroy.
Update: As predicted, news spread Monday evening that Koepka is immediately reinstated to PGA Tour eligibility, with confirmed starts at the Farmers Insurance Open and the WM Phoenix Open.
This is enabled by the newly created \”Returning Member Program\”, allowing select LIV players membership reinstatement without suspension, recognizing Koepka’s recent major achievements, especially the 2023 PGA Championship.
The PGA Tour states this special rule applies to major and Players Championship winners from the last three years, expiring February 2. CEO Brian Rolapp called it a unique, one-time chance with no precedent for future cases, prompting consideration among players like Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith and concern within LIV Golf.
Koepka’s penalty includes a $5 million donation to PGA Tour charity, exclusion from 2026 FedEx Cup bonuses, and a five-year ban from the PGA Tour Enterprise equity program.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Golf Return for 2026
Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed participation in the 202