First start at Farmers, Vijay Singh returns, Charley Hull to launch YouTube channel soon. The Back Nine.
Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will remain connected to the competing circuit but needs more family time. According to LIV CEO Scott McNeil, this was a mutual agreement. Koepka, known for thriving in high-level competition, appeared less motivated within LIV. In 2022, he joined LIV primarily due to injury concerns about ending his career and securing financial stability. Skipping the last contractual season is unsurprising, though questions linger regarding any buyout or repayment of guaranteed earnings. Koepka remains owner of the LIV Smash GC team, with Talor Gooch named captain.
Speculation surrounds where Koepka will next tee off: the DP World Tour, with immediate eligibility though possibly a penalty fee, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension from his last LIV appearance amid softened lifetime bans by former Commissioner Jay Monahan. This key question partly resolved as ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reports Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership and rejoin the playing field after leaving in 2022.
An anticipated suspension would end in August, coinciding with the conclusion of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship. Koepka would be eligible in 2027 under the PGA Tour’s compressed schedule of nearly two dozen $20 million events featuring premium limited fields — ideal timing for a comeback, aligning with Koepka’s preferences. PGA Tour Enterprises investors would welcome a star of his caliber joining their new elite league.
PGA Tour champion Jon Rahm recently said on the \”Subpar\” podcast, \”He may 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 into high-profile events, he’d play those too.\” The suspension decision involves tour leadership, player directors, and Tiger Woods-led competition committee, reportedly following Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to allow Koepka back immediately.
Update: Koepka has been reinstated immediately and will start at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines by late January, also confirmed for the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale.
This was enabled by the recently created \”Returning Member Program,\” offering selected LIV players membership reinstatement without suspension, acknowledging Koepka’s sporting merits, including his 2023 PGA Championship win as a fifth major.
The PGA Tour states this exemption applies to major and Players winners from the past three years until February 2. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp called it a one-time opportunity and not precedent for future cases. This decision may influence Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Cam Smith, and create tension within LIV Golf.
Koepka’s penalties for LIV participation are mild: a $5 million PGA Tour charity donation, exclusion from the 2026 FedEx Cup bonus and a five-year ban from the PGA Tour Enterprises equity program.