First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh aiming for a comeback, Charley Hull launching on YouTube soon. The Back Nine.
As expected: Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his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 amicably agreed upon, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. However, Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level sporting challenges, something he found limited in LIV. He joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns near the end of his career and to secure a sizable retirement fund. Thus, skipping the final contracted season is not surprising, though questions linger: Did he have to buy out or return part of his guaranteed salary? Does the 35-year-old remain an owner of LIV team Smash GC, which has appointed Talor Gooch as the new captain?
Speculation is rife about which fairways Koepka will soon appear on. The DP World Tour could grant immediate eligibility, potentially requiring a fine; the PGA Tour imposes a one-year suspension since his last LIV start, following a significant relaxation of former commissioner Jay Monahan’s lifetime bans. It makes little sense to be vindictive when every returning LIV player, especially one as prominent as Koepka, benefits the already dominant PGA Tour. This key question seems partly answered. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported last Friday that Koepka formally applied to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022, seeking reinstatement among the playing members.
An eventual suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season after the Tour Championship from August 27-30. This would make Koepka eligible for 2027, aligning perfectly with the PGA Tour’s new compressed schedule featuring roughly two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited, top-tier fields—a perfect entry point suiting Koepka’s style. PGA Tour Enterprises investors, likely powering the new elite league, would welcome another marquee name.
“He might need some time, but I think he will return to the PGA Tour,” said Jon Rahm recently on the \”Subpar\” podcast. “He’ll probably play at least the minimum, and why not the tournaments he likes, the big ones. If he qualifies or is invited to high-profile events, he’ll play those too.” Perhaps the five-time major champion will get leniency in Ponte Vedra Beach—the board, player directors, and Tiger Woods-led competition committee influence suspensions, and Rory McIlroy reportedly advocates for Koepka’s immediate return.
Update: Indeed, the news spread rapidly Monday evening local time: Koepka is immediately eligible to play on the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines, with participation already confirmed at the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, Arizona.
This was enabled by a newly created \”Returning Member Program\” announced last Thursday, allowing select LIV players to regain PGA Tour membership without suspension. Koepka’s on-course merits, especially his 2023 PGA