First start at the Farmers already, Vijay Singh back in action, Charley Hull soon launching her own YouTube channel. The Back Nine.
It was expected: Brooks Koepka has officially opted out of the LIV Golf League season 2026, which starts on February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will stay connected to the competing circuit but needs more time for his family. This was a friendly agreement, according to an official statement by LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is a competitive type who is highly motivated and fired up mainly during high-level competitions, something he lacked at LIV. He joined LIV in 2022 mainly because of injury concerns and to secure a comfortable retirement fund. His skipping of the last contractual season is not surprising, though questions remain: Did he have to buy out his contract or refund part of the guaranteed fee? Does the 35-year-old remain an owner of his LIV team Smash GC, which has already appointed Talor Gooch as the new captain?
Speculations are growing about where Koepka will play next: on the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible arguably with a penalty, or on the PGA Tour, where he would have to serve a one-year suspension from his last LIV appearance. The lifetime bans imposed by former Commissioner Jay Monahan were significantly softened. There seems to be an answer now. According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not extended after 2022, and be reinstated as a player.
Any suspension would expire in August. Although the 2026 season ends with the Tour Championship from August 27 to 30, Koepka would be eligible to play in 2027 when the PGA Tour introduces its compressed schedule of about two dozen $20 million tournaments featuring smaller, elite fields. The perfect timing for a return, just to Koepka’s taste. Investors in PGA Tour Enterprises, likely the backers of the new top tier league, would certainly welcome another marquee name.
\”He may need some time, but I think he will return to the PGA Tour,\” said Jon Rahm recently in 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 invited to high-profile tournaments, he would play those too.\” Maybe the five-time major winner will get some leniency in Ponte Vedra Beach — decisions about suspensions involve the board, player directors, and the competition committee led by Tiger Woods, who supports letting Koepka play right away following Rory McIlroy’s recommendation.
Update: Exactly that happened. On Monday evening local time, news spread fast that Koepka is immediately eligible to compete on the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in late January.