First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh returns, 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh.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 champion remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for family, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka, known for thriving in high-level competition, showed limited motivation at LIV. Having switched to LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury-related career uncertainty and financial security for retirement, his decision to skip his last contracted season is not surprising, though questions remain about a potential buyout or salary reimbursement. He still owns his LIV team Smash GC, which recently named Talor Gooch as captain.
Speculations abound about Koepka’s next competitive venues: The DP World Tour, where he is likely immediately eligible perhaps after a penalty, or the PGA Tour where he faces a one-year suspension from his last LIV event, following softened lifetime bans imposed by former Commissioner Jay Monahan. Returning LIV players, especially prominent ones like Koepka, benefit the PGA Tour’s stronger positioning. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported that Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022.
An eventual suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship (August 27–30). Koepka would be eligible for 2027 under the PGA Tour’s revamped schedule featuring around two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited top-tier fields, a perfect opportunity for his preferred comeback. PGA Tour Enterprises investors would certainly welcome a high-profile name like Koepka. Jon Rahm recently speculated on the podcast “Subpar” that Koepka might need time but would return to the PGA Tour, playing selectively big events. There’s also speculation that PGA Tour authorities might be lenient on Koepka’s suspension, following Rory McIlroy’s endorsement for his immediate return.
Update: Koepka is now immediately eligible for the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines at the end of January, with confirmed participation at the WM Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Arizona. This was enabled by the recently created \”Returning Member Program,\” allowing select LIV players to rejoin the PGA Tour without suspension, recognizing Koepka’s recent sporting merits, especially his 2023 PGA Championship victory.
The PGA Tour stated this special rule applies to major winners and Players champions from the last three years and expires February 2. CEO Brian Rolapp called it a unique, clearly defined opportunity, not a precedent for future cases. This development raises thoughts among Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith and causes unease within the LIV Golf League.
Koepka’s penalty for joining LIV is mild: a $5 million donation to PGA Tour charity, exclusion from the 2026 FedEx Cup bonus system, and five-year ineligibility for the PGA Tour Enterprises equity program backed by investor contributions.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Start in 2026
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