First start at the Farmers Open, Vijay Singh returns at 62, and Charley Hull launches her own 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for family. This was the official statement from LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level competition and motivation, which was limited in LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 due to injury concerns and to secure retirement funds. It is unsurprising he skipped the final contractual season, though questions remain over financial details and his ownership status of LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation surrounds where Koepka will play next – DP World Tour eligibility is immediate, possibly with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension since his last LIV event, though previous lifetime bans were reduced. According to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally requested to reinstate his PGA Tour membership last Friday, after not renewing post-2022.
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The suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship. Koepka would be eligible for 2027 under the PGA Tour’s new condensed schedule featuring roughly two dozen $20 million events with limited elite fields. This suits Koepka’s preferred timing for a comeback and benefits PGA Tour Enterprises’ investors.
Jon Rahm recently said on the \”Subpar\” podcast, \”He might need some time, but I think he’ll return to the PGA Tour. He’ll probably play the minimum and the big events he likes.\” PGA Tour officials including the player directors and the Tiger Woods-led competition committee reportedly support a waiver, following Rory McIlroy’s recommendation for Koepka’s immediate return.
Update: Koepka is now immediately eligible for the PGA Tour and will play the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines. He is also confirmed for the WM Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Arizona.
This is enabled by the recently introduced \”Returning Member Program,\” allowing select LIV players to regain PGA Tour membership without suspension, considering their recent major wins, including Koepka’s 2023 PGA Championship.
The PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp stated this special provision applies solely to major and Players Championship winners from the last three years and ends February 2. This unprecedented opportunity may influence others like Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith and impacts LIV Golf dynamics.
Koepka must donate $5 million to PGA Tour charity and is excluded from the 2026 FedEx Cup bonus and five years from the Tour’s equity program.