First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager to play again, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner intends to remain connected to the competing circuit but needs more time for family. This mutual agreement was announced by LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, something he found limited at LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 due to injury concerns, seeking a solid retirement fund. Hence, skipping his last contractual season is not surprising, though questions remain about financial settlements and ownership of his LIV team, Smash GC, now led by Talor Gooch.
Speculations are rampant about which tours Koepka will appear on next, whether the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible possibly with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension since his last LIV appearance, following the reduction of lifetime bans previously set by former Commissioner Jay Monahan. The key question seems partially answered: according to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership and rejoin the players’ ranks after not renewing post-2022.
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The suspension would end in August, coinciding with the close of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship from August 27-30. Koepka would thus be eligible for 2027, perfect timing to reenter a PGA Tour compressed to about two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited elite fields. This aligns well with Koepka’s preferences and would be welcomed by PGA Tour Enterprises investors behind the new top league.
Jon Rahm recently stated 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 and why not the tournaments he likes, the big ones. If he qualifies or gets invited to those, he’ll surely play.\” Additionally, player directors and the Tiger Woods-led competition committee hold influence on suspensions, and Rory McIlroy has recommended allowing Koepka to play immediately. Fans seem to agree, according to a non-representative \”Bunkered\” magazine poll.
Update: It happened as hoped: Koepka is now immediately eligible for the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines. He is also confirmed to participate in the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale. This was enabled by the new \”Returning Member Program,\” allowing selected LIV players to rejoin PGA Tour membership without suspension.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Start for 2026
Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed he will play in the LIV Golf League in 2026. His Crushers team with Charles Howell III,