First start already at the Farmers; Vijay Singh wants to give it another go, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will remain connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his family. That was reportedly agreed upon amicably, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. However, Koepka is a competitive type who gets motivated and fired up only in high-level sporting confrontations, something the LIV circuit hardly provided. When he switched to LIV in 2022, it was largely due to injury concerns about his career ending and the opportunity to secure a good retirement fund. So his skipping the final contractual playing year is not surprising, though questions remain. Did he have to buy out his contract or return part of his guaranteed salary? Will the 35-year-old remain the owner of his LIV team Smash GC, which has already named Talor Gooch the new captain?
Speculations abound about which fairways Koepka will appear on next. The DP World Tour would immediately grant him playing rights—likely requiring a penalty payment. Or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension since his last LIV appearance, after former commissioner Jay Monahan’s lifetime bans were significantly softened? Why be vindictive when every returning LIV player, especially a prominent one, plays into the hands of the long-standing Tour with more leverage? This key question seems partially answered. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported that Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022, and be reinstated as a player.
Any suspension would end in August, coinciding with the conclusion of the 2026 season finale at the Tour Championship from August 27-30. Koepka would then be eligible for 2027, when the PGA Tour introduces its new schedule condensed to nearly two dozen $20 million tournaments with highly competitive limited player fields. The perfect time for a comeback, fitting Koepka’s style. Investors at PGA Tour Enterprises, likely the backers of the new elite league, would welcome another strong name.
Jon Rahm recently opined on the podcast \”Subpar\”: \”He might need some time, but I think he will return to the PGA Tour. He will probably play the minimum at least, and why not the tournaments he likes, the big ones? If he qualifies or gets into high-profile events, he would play those as well.\” Perhaps the PGA Tour will be lenient with the five-time major champion—decision-making involves the board, player directors, and the Tiger Woods-led competition committee, which follows Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to allow Koepka’s immediate return.
Update: It happened just that way. On Monday evening local time, news spread rapidly: Koepka is immediately eligible to play again on the PGA Tour and will tee off at the