First start at the Farmers, Vijay Singh returns, Charley Hull launching YouTube channel. 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will remain connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time. This was amicably agreed upon, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka, a competitor who thrives on the highest-level contests, found limited motivation at LIV. He had switched in 2022 mainly due to injuries threatening his career’s end and to secure a strong financial retirement. Thus, forgoing the final contract year is not surprising, though questions remain about buyout terms and his ongoing ownership of LIV’s Smash GC team. Speculation abounds about which fairways Koepka will play next: DP World Tour, where he could play immediately possibly with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension since his last LIV event, after previous lifetime bans were softened. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reports that Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership and rejoin the player ranks.
Any suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the 2026 season’s conclusion at the Tour Championship, August 27-30. Koepka would be eligible for the 2027 season under the PGA Tour’s new schedule featuring nearly two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited elite fields. This timing suits Koepka’s competitive preferences. Investors in PGA Tour Enterprises, likely overseeing the new top league, would welcome a marketable star like him. Jon Rahm recently expressed in the \”Subpar\” podcast his belief Koepka would return to the PGA Tour, likely playing minimum events and major tournaments he prefers. Rory McIlroy also supports Koepka’s immediate return, and the PGA Tour’s committees, including Tiger Woods-led competition committee, could waive suspensions for a five-time major champion.
Update: The news spread quickly Monday evening local time that Koepka is immediately eligible for the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in late January. His appearance at the WM Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Arizona is also confirmed. This was enabled by the \”Returning Member Program,\” a new policy allowing select LIV players to resume PGA Tour membership without suspension, notably considering Koepka’s recent 2023 PGA Championship win as a fifth major. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp stated the exemption applies only to major and Players winners from the last three years, ending February 2. He emphasized it’s a one-time opportunity without future precedent. This development may influence players like Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith and cause concern in LIV Golf.
Koepka’s penalty for joining LIV is relatively mild: a $5 million donation to PGA Tour charity, exclusion from 2026 FedEx Cup bonus