First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager to compete again, Charley Hull launching on YouTube. The Back Nine.
Expected: Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time. This was mutually agreed on, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, something he found limited in LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 due to injuries threatening his career and to secure a solid retirement fund. Thus, skipping the final contracted season is not surprising, though questions remain, like whether he had to buy out his contract or refund part of his guarantee. He still owns the LIV team Smash GC, which recently appointed Talor Gooch as captain.
Speculation is rife about where Koepka will compete next. The DP World Tour would allow immediate eligibility, possibly with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he has a one-year suspension from his last LIV appearance, after former commissioner Jay Monahan reduced lifetime bans drastically. Why hold grudges when every returning LIV player benefits the well-established tour? ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reports Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022.
An eventual suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship. Koepka would be eligible in 2027 under the PGA Tour’s new schedule featuring around two dozen $20 million events with limited, strong fields — an ideal comeback moment for him. PGA Tour Enterprises’ investors would welcome another star player.
Jon Rahm recently stated on the \”Subpar\” podcast, \”He might need time, but I think Koepka will return to the PGA Tour. He’ll probably play the minimum at first and the tournaments he enjoys, the big ones. Once he qualifies for top-tier events, he would play those too.\” Possibly, the tour might be lenient with a five-time major winner, influenced by Rory McIlroy’s recommendation and Tiger Woods-led competition committee’s involvement.
Update: It happened as expected. Monday evening local time, news spread rapidly that Koepka is immediately eligible again on the PGA Tour and will compete at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines. His participation at the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale is also confirmed.
This was enabled by a newly created \”Returning Member Program\” allowing select LIV players to regain PGA Tour membership without suspension. In Koepka’s case, his sporting merits, especially the 2023 PGA Championship as a fifth major, were taken into account.
The PGA Tour states this special rule applies to major winners and Players Championship winners of the last three years, expiring February 2. \”This is a unique, clearly defined opportunity and not precedent for the future,\” said PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp. This will likely concern players like Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith, and unsettle LIV Golf.
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