First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh returns, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has opted out of the 2026 LIV Golf season beginning February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will remain connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for family. LIV CEO Scott McNeil stated this was amicably agreed upon. Koepka is a competitive player who thrives on top-level rivalries, something he found limited in LIV. He joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns with his career and to secure a retirement fund. His skipping the final contracted season raises questions: Did he buy out his contract or refund part of his guaranteed salary? Does the 35-year-old remain an owner of LIV’s Smash GC team, which recently appointed Talor Gooch as captain?
Speculation abounds about which fairways Koepka will soon appear on. He would be immediately eligible on the DP World Tour—perhaps with a penalty—or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension following his last LIV appearance, after previous lifetime bans were significantly softened. Why be vindictive when every returning LIV star, especially a top name, benefits the already dominant PGA Tour? This critical question seems partially answered. According to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which had not been extended after 2022, and to be reinstated as a player.
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His potential suspension would end in August, coinciding with the finale of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship from August 27-30. However, Koepka would be eligible for the 2027 season, which features a compressed schedule of about two dozen $20 million events with limited, star-studded fields – an ideal comeback opportunity in Koepka’s view. PGA Tour Enterprises’ investors would likely welcome an additional marquee name.
“He might need some time, but I think he will return to the PGA Tour,” said Jon Rahm on the Subpar podcast. “He will probably play at least the minimum, why not the tournaments he likes, the big ones. If he qualifies for or gets into prestigious events, he’ll play those too.” Perhaps exceptions will be made for the five-time major winner in Ponte Vedra Beach, where the board, player directors, and Tiger Woods-led competition committee—all involved in suspension decisions—may follow Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to let Koepka play immediately.
Update: Koepka is back. News spread quickly Monday evening that he is immediately eligible for the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in late January. His participation at the World Golf Championships-Phoenix Open is also confirmed.
This became possible through the recently introduced \”Returning Member Program,\” allowing select LIV players to rejoin the PGA Tour without suspension. Koepka’s considerable achievements, notably his 202