First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh ready for another run, Charley Hull soon launching on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will stay linked to the rival circuit but needs more time for family. This was stated amicably by LIV CEO Scott McNeil. However, Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level contests, something LIV hasn’t fully provided. He joined LIV in 2022 partly due to injury concerns and to secure good retirement earnings. Thus, opting out of the final contracted season is not surprising, though questions remain about potential buyout or payback. He remains an owner of LIV team Smash GC, recently naming Talor Gooch as the new captain.
Speculations abound on which tours Koepka will play next. He would be immediately eligible for the DP World Tour, likely with a penalty fee, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension stemming from his last LIV appearance, softened from a lifetime ban. Why be vindictive when prominent LIV returnees benefit the established tour? ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reported Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022.
An eventual suspension would end in August, coinciding with the 2026 season conclusion at the Tour Championship. Koepka would then be eligible for 2027, aligning with the PGA Tour’s revamped schedule of nearly two dozen $20 million tournaments featuring limited, top-quality fields—ideal for his return and attractive to PGA Tour Enterprises’ investors.
Jon Rahm recently expressed optimism on the Subpar podcast: \”He might need time, but I think he’ll come back 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 can play high-profile tournaments, he will.\” The player directors and Tiger Woods-led competition committee, with Rory McIlroy’s backing, may also ease Koepka’s reinstatement.
Update: Koepka is now immediately reinstated on the PGA Tour and will play at the Farmers Insurance Open end of January at Torrey Pines, with the WM Phoenix Open also confirmed. This is enabled by the \”Returning Member Program,\” allowing certain LIV players to return without suspension. Koepka’s recent merits, especially his 2023 PGA Championship win, were influential.
The PGA Tour states this special rule applies to major and Players winners from the last three years, with a deadline of February 2. CEO Brian Rolapp emphasizes it’s a one-time opportunity and no precedent for future cases, stirring thoughts for Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith and causing unease in LIV Golf.
Koepka’s penalty is relatively mild: a $5 million charity donation, exclusion from the 2026 FedEx Cup bonus, and a five-year ban from PGA Tour’s equity program backed by investors.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Start for 2026
Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed his