First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh is playing again, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf League season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion will stay connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time. This was amicably agreed upon, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is a competitive type who thrives in high-level competition and gets fired up, something somewhat lacking at LIV. He switched to the Saudi circuit in 2022 mainly because he feared his career was ending due to injuries and wanted to secure a good retirement fund. Thus, his skipping the final contractual season is not surprising, although questions remain about buyouts or repayments. He remains owner of his LIV team Smash GC, which recently named Talor Gooch captain.
Speculation surrounds where Koepka will play next. On the DP World Tour, where he could play immediately, probably with a penalty, or on the PGA Tour, where he must serve a one-year suspension after his last LIV start. The lifelong bans by former Commissioner Jay Monahan have been severely softened. Allowing returning LIV players, especially high-profile ones, to rejoin benefits the PGA Tour. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported Koepka formally filed to reactivate his PGA Tour membership last Friday.
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Any suspension would end in August, coinciding with the 2026 PGA Tour season finale at the Tour Championship. Koepka would be eligible in 2027 under the PGA Tour’s compressed schedule of about two dozen $20 million events with limited elite fields, a perfect timing for his return and appealing to PGA Tour Enterprises investors.
\”He might need some time, but I think he’ll return to the PGA Tour,\” Jon Rahm recently said on the \”Subpar\” podcast. \”He’ll probably play at least a minimum and the events he likes, the big ones. If he can then qualify or participate in top-tier tournaments, he’ll play those too.\” The player directors and Tiger Woods-led competition committee may well show leniency, aligning with Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to allow Koepka to play immediately.
Update: Koepka is cleared to play on the PGA Tour immediately and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open late January at Torrey Pines. He’s also confirmed for the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale. This is enabled by the recently created \”Returning Member Program,\” allowing select LIV players to regain PGA Tour membership without suspension. Koepka’s recent sporting merits, including the 2023 PGA Championship win, were key.
The PGA Tour states this special rule applies to major and Players champions from the last three years and expires February 2. CEO Brian Rolapp says this is a one-time clearly defined opportunity and not a precedent. This will impact players like Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith and cause