First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh ready to compete again, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the competing circuit but needs more family time. This was reportedly agreed upon amicably, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is a competitor who thrives in high-level competition and gets fired up, which was somewhat limited during his LIV tenure. He switched to LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns near the end of his career and to secure a good retirement fund. Therefore, skipping the last contracted season is not surprising, though questions remain about financial settlements and his ownership status of LIV’s Smash GC team, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation now revolves around which tours Koepka will next compete on: the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible—likely with a penalty—or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension after his last LIV start, following the significant reduction of former Commissioner Jay Monahan’s lifetime bans. However, this critical issue appears partly resolved. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported that Koepka officially applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership after not renewing post-2022 and to be reinstated among the players.
Update: It has happened. On Monday evening local time, news spread rapidly that Koepka is immediately eligible to compete on the PGA Tour 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 was made possible by the recently created \”Returning Member Program,\” allowing selected LIV players to regain PGA Tour membership without suspension. Koepka’s sporting credentials, especially his 2023 PGA Championship (fifth major), were taken into account.
The PGA Tour stated that this special provision applies to major winners and Players Championship winners from the past three years, ending February 2. \”This is a one-time, clearly defined opportunity and does not set a precedent for future situations,\” said PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp. This development likely concerns Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith and causes unease within LIV Golf.
Koepka’s penalty for joining LIV is mild: a $5 million donation to the PGA Tour charity pool, exclusion from the 2026 FedEx Cup bonus system, and a five-year exclusion from the PGA Tour Enterprises’ equity program funded by investor contributions.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Start for 2026
Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed he will compete in the 2026 LIV Golf season. His Crushers team with Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri returns unchanged for the fifth season. Interestingly, no general contract extension was announced by DeChambeau, leaving room for speculation about behind-the-scenes agreements aiming to retain LIV’s most marketable star following Koepka’s departure.