First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh ready for a comeback, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
Expected: Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the LIV Golf League for the 2026 season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka, known as a competitive player who thrives in high-level matchups, had limited motivation at LIV. He switched primarily in 2022 due to injury concerns and to secure a comfortable retirement fund, making his opt-out of the final contractual season unsurprising, though questions remain about buyouts or repayment of guaranteed money. He still owns his LIV team Smash GC, who recently appointed Talor Gooch as captain.
Speculation is rife about which fairways Koepka will pursue next. The DP World Tour offers immediate playing rights, probably with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension since his last LIV appearance, following a significant reduction from an earlier lifetime ban. Why hold grudges when every high-profile LIV returnee benefits the PGA Tour? According to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which lapsed after 2022, and be reinstated to the players’ circle.
Any potential suspension would end in August, coinciding with the 2026 season’s conclusion at the Tour Championship from August 27-30. Koepka would be eligible for 2027, when the PGA Tour plans a compact schedule with nearly two dozen $20 million tournaments, featuring limited elite fields—a perfect timing for his return. PGA Tour Enterprises investors would also welcome another big name.
\”He may need some time, but I think he’ll return to the PGA Tour,\” Jon Rahm said recently on the \”Subpar\” podcast. \”He’ll probably play at least the minimum, and why not the tournaments he likes, the big ones. If he can qualify for or participate in higher-caliber events, he’d play those too.\” Perhaps PGA Tour leadership in Ponte Vedra, including Tiger Woods-led competition committees and player directors, will be lenient with a five-time major winner, especially following Rory McIlroy’s endorsement to reinstate Koepka.
Update: It happened just like that. Monday evening local time, news spread rapidly that Koepka is immediately eligible to play on the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in late January. Participation at the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, Arizona, is also confirmed.
An enabling factor is the \”Returning Member Program,\” introduced last Thursday, allowing select LIV players to regain PGA Tour membership without suspension. Koepka’s sporting merits, especially his 2023 PGA Championship win as his fifth major, were decisive. The PGA