First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh wants to give it another go, Charley Hull to launch YouTube channel soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season beginning February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the competing circuit but needs more family time. LIV CEO Scott McNeil stated this was mutually agreed upon. However, Koepka is known as a competitor who thrives in high-level competition, something LIV didn’t fully provide. Having joined LIV in 2022 amid doubts about his career due to injuries and seeking a solid retirement fund, his passing on the last contractual season is not surprising, though questions remain about possible buyouts or paybacks. Koepka also remains owner of his LIV team Smash GC, with Talor Gooch as the new captain.
Speculations abound about where Koepka will play next. The DP World Tour would grant immediate eligibility, possibly with penalties, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension after his last LIV appearance, reduced from previously lifetime bans by former commissioner Jay Monahan. Given the PGA Tour’s leniency toward returning LIV players, this key question has been partially answered. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported that last Friday Koepka formally applied to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022.
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The possible suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the conclusion of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship (August 27-30). Koepka would then be eligible for 2027 when the PGA Tour introduces its compressed schedule with around two dozen $20 million tournaments featuring limited, highly competitive fields—the perfect time for his return. Investors in the PGA Tour Enterprises, likely the backers of the new top league, would welcome a marquee name like him.
Jon Rahm recently said on the \”Subpar\” podcast, \”He may need some time, but I think he will return to the PGA Tour. He’ll probably at least play the minimum, and why not play the tournaments he loves, the big ones? If he qualifies or gets invites to top events, he’d play those too.\” It’s possible that at Ponte Vedra Beach the five-time major winner might get some leniency. Decisions involving suspensions involve not only the board but also player directors and the competition committee led by Tiger Woods, who supports Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to reinstate Koepka immediately.
Update: It happened just like that. On Monday evening local time, news spread rapidly that Koepka is immediately eligible to compete on the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines at the end of January. He is also confirmed for the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, Arizona.
This is enabled by the \”Returning Member Program,\” a new rule created last Thursday allowing select LIV players to rejoin the PGA Tour without suspension. Koepka