First start at the Farmers, Vijay Singh also making a comeback, Charley Hull to launch YouTube soon. 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his family. This amicable agreement was stated by LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka, a competitor by nature, thrives on top-level competition, which he found limited in LIV. He joined LIV in 2022 mainly to secure his retirement financials due to injury risks. Questions remain about whether he had to buy out or refund part of his contract. He still owns the LIV team Smash GC, with Talor Gooch as the new captain.
Speculations focus on where Koepka will next play: the DP World Tour, where he’d be immediately eligible (likely with a penalty), or the PGA Tour, where he must serve a one-year suspension post his last LIV event, following softened lifetime bans by former commissioner Jay Monahan. Recently, ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, previously not renewed after 2022.
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His suspension would expire in August 2026, coinciding with the end of the PGA Tour season’s Tour Championship from August 27-30. Koepka would then be eligible to play in 2027 under the PGA Tour’s new condensed schedule featuring nearly two dozen $20-million events with limited fields. This timing suits Koepka’s comeback preference and would please PGA Tour Enterprises investors seeking marquee players.
Jon Rahm recently said on the \”Subpar\” podcast, \”He might need some time, but I think he will return to the PGA Tour. He’ll likely play at least the minimum, and why not the tournaments he likes, the big ones? If he qualifies or gets invites to high-profile events, he’ll play those too.\” The PGA Tour’s board, player directors, and Tiger Woods-led competition committee, following Rory McIlroy’s recommendation, may grant Koepka leniency.
Update: It has happened. On Monday evening local time, news spread quickly that Koepka is immediately eligible to play on the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines end of January. He will also participate in the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona.
This is made possible by the \”Returning Member Program,\” established the previous Thursday, allowing selected LIV players to regain PGA Tour membership without suspension. Koepka’s recent sporting merits, especially his 2023 PGA Championship win, were considered.
The PGA Tour states this special rule applies to major and Players Championship winners from the last three years. The deadline is February 2. CEO Brian Rolapp said, \”This is a one-time,