First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh still eager, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has opted out of the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but wants more family time. This was reportedly a friendly agreement according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, which he only partly found at LIV. He originally joined LIV in 2022 mainly for financial security due to injury concerns about ending his career prematurely. So his skipping the final contracted season is not surprising, though questions remain about possible buyouts or paybacks. He still owns his LIV team Smash GC, with Talor Gooch as the new captain.
Speculation surrounds which tours Koepka will play on next: the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible, possibly with a fine? Or the PGA Tour, with a one-year suspension following his last LIV event, after lifetime bans were softened. Why hold grudges when returning LIV players serve the stronger tour’s interests? ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reports Koepka formally applied last Friday to reinstate his PGA Tour membership, which had lapsed after 2022.
A potential suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the 2026 season finale Tour Championship. This would clear the way for Koepka to compete in 2027 under the PGA Tour’s new schedule featuring about two dozen $20 million events with limited elite fields—perfect timing for his return. PGA Tour Enterprises investors would welcome a marquee name like Koepka.
Jon Rahm recently commented on the podcast \”Subpar\” that Koepka might take time but will return to the PGA Tour, likely playing selectively in his favorite and major events. The PGA Tour’s board, player directors, and Tiger Woods-led competition committee hold sway on suspensions and appear aligned with Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to allow Koepka immediate play.
Update: It happened as expected. 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 in late January at Torrey Pines. His participation in the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale is also confirmed.
Enabling this is the newly created \”Returning Member Program\” allowing selected LIV players to regain PGA Tour membership without suspension. Koepka’s recent achievements, especially his 2023 PGA Championship major, were considered.
The PGA Tour stated the special rule applies to major and Players champions from the past three years, with a deadline of February 2. CEO Brian Rolapp emphasized this is a one-time clearly defined opportunity without precedent for future cases, signaling to players like Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith, while causing unease within the LIV Golf League.
Koepka’s penalty for joining LIV is mild: a $5 million donation to PGA Tour charity, exclusion from the 2026 FedEx Cup bonus, and a five-year hold from PGA Tour equity participation plans linked to investors in PGA Tour Enterprises.