First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh ready to compete again, Charley Hull launching YouTube channel soon. 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 champion will stay connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time. According to LIV CEO Scott McNeil, this was a friendly agreement. However, Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level competition and was not fully motivated at LIV. He joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns towards the end of his career and to secure a good retirement financial package. Thus, his skipping the final contractual season is not surprising, though questions remain about possible buyouts or salary repayments. Koepka remains the owner of LIV team Smash GC, which recently named Talor Gooch captain.
Speculation surrounds which tour Koepka will compete on next: the DP World Tour, where he would instantly be eligible to play, possibly with a penalty; or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension since his last LIV appearance, after former commissioner Jay Monahan softened the lifetime bans significantly. It seems the essential question has been partly answered. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership which was not renewed after 2022, seeking readmission to the playing group.
His potential suspension would end in August, coinciding with the close of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship from August 27-30. Koepka would be eligible to compete in the 2027 season under the PGA Tour’s compressed schedule featuring nearly two dozen $20-million tournaments with limited and top-tier fields. This timing is ideal for his re-entry and would also appeal to investors at PGA Tour Enterprises, the likely operator of the new top league, seeking marquee names.
\”He may need some time, but I think he’ll return to the PGA Tour,\” said Jon Rahm recently on the podcast \”Subpar.\” \”He’ll probably play at least the minimum, focusing on the tournaments he likes, especially the big ones. If he qualifies for or is invited to high-profile events, he would play those too.\” Perhaps the PGA Tour, including the Tiger Woods-led competition committee and player directors, may show leniency for the five-time major winner, following Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to allow Koepka immediate play again.
Update: It happened just so. On Monday evening local time, news spread rapidly that Koepka is immediately eligible to play on the PGA Tour again and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines. His participation at the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, Arizona, is also confirmed.
This is enabled by a new rule called the \”Returning Member Program\” created the previous Thursday, allowing select LIV players to resume PGA Tour membership without suspension. In Koepka’s case, his sporting merits,