First start at the Farmers, Vijay Singh returns, Charley Hull launches YouTube channel. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season, starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains connected to the competitor circuit but needs more family time. This was reportedly agreed upon amicably, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka, a competitive type who thrives on high-level competition, found limited motivation at LIV. He joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns and to secure a strong retirement fund. His skipping the final contractual season is thus unsurprising, though questions remain about financial settlements and his continued ownership of the LIV team Smash GC, which has appointed Talor Gooch as captain.
Speculation is rife about which tours Koepka will join next. For the DP World Tour, he’s immediately eligible—possibly with a penalty. On the PGA Tour, he faces a one-year suspension from his last LIV appearance, softened from a former lifetime ban. Importantly, according to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership after it was not renewed post-2022.
His suspension would end in August, coinciding with the close of the 2026 season. Koepka would be eligible to play in the PGA Tour’s condensed 2027 schedule featuring nearly two dozen $20 million events with limited elite fields—a fitting time for his return. PGA Tour Enterprises investors would welcome such a marquee name.
Jon Rahm recently opined on the podcast ‘Subpar’ that Koepka might take time but will likely return and participate in tournaments he favors, especially majors. The PGA Tour’s board, player directors, and Tiger Woods-led competition committee hold sway over suspension rules and may heed Rory McIlroy’s advice to reinstate Koepka promptly. Majority fan support seems to align, according to a ‘Bunkered’ magazine poll.
Update: The speculation proved true as news broke that Koepka is immediately eligible for PGA Tour play and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines. He will also participate in the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale. This became possible due to a new ‘Returning Member Program’ allowing certain LIV players to rejoin without suspension.
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