First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager for one more run, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected: Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the LIV Golf League for the 2026 season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his family. This was reportedly agreed upon amicably, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. However, many remain skeptical. Koepka is a competitor who thrives under high-level competition, something he only partially experienced at LIV. In 2022, he joined LIV mainly due to injury concerns about ending his career and to secure a good retirement fund. Thus, his skipping the last contractual season comes as no surprise, though questions remain. Did he buy out his contract or return part of his guaranteed fee? Is he still an owner of the LIV team Smash GC, which recently appointed Talor Gooch as captain?
Speculation is rife on where Koepka will next tee off. The DP World Tour, where he would immediately be eligible, possibly with a penalty? Or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension from his last LIV appearance after previous lifetime bans by former commissioner Jay Monahan were significantly softened? Why hold grudges when every LIV returnee—especially a prominent one—may benefit the already dominant PGA Tour? This essential question seems partially answered. According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which had not been renewed after 2022, seeking reinstatement to the player pool.
Any suspension would expire in August. Although the 2026 season ends with the Tour Championship August 27-30, Koepka would be eligible to play in 2027 under the PGA Tour’s new schedule featuring nearly two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited elite fields. The perfect timing for a comeback, fitting Koepka’s competitive nature. PGA Tour Enterprises investors leading the new top league would surely welcome such a marquee name.
\”He may need some time, but I think he will return to the PGA Tour,\” Jon Rahm recently said on the \”Subpar\” podcast. \”He will probably play at least the minimum, and why not the tournaments he likes, the big ones. If he qualifies or gets into high-profile events, he would play those too.\” It’s possible the PGA Tour might ease his suspension, considering his status as a five-time major winner. The player directors and the competition committee led by Tiger Woods, who