First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh wants to give it another go, 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for family. This was reportedly a friendly agreement, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is a competitive type who gets highly motivated and fired up only in high-level contests, which he somewhat lacked in LIV. He switched to LIV in 2022 mainly because of injury concerns and to secure a solid retirement fund. Therefore, skipping the final contracted season is not surprising, though questions remain about possible buyouts or repayments. Koepka remains the owner of his LIV team Smash GC, with Talor Gooch as the new captain.
Speculations abound regarding where Koepka will play next: the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible (possibly with a penalty), or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension post his last LIV event, after former Commissioner Jay Monahan eased lifetime bans. Why hold grudges when LIV returnees, especially prominent ones, benefit the well-established tour? According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership and rejoin the playing field after not renewing post-2022.
His potential suspension would end in August, coinciding with the 2026 season finale at the Tour Championship from August 27–30. Koepka would then be eligible for 2027, when the PGA Tour plans a compressed schedule of nearly two dozen $20 million events with limited, top-ranked fields—the perfect timing for his comeback, aligning with his preferences. PGA Tour Enterprises investors would welcome this valuable name to their new elite league.
\”He may need some time, but I think he’ll return to the PGA Tour,\” said Jon Rahm recently on the \”Subpar\” podcast. \”He will probably play at least the minimum, and why not the tournaments he likes, the big ones? If he qualifies for or enters high-profile events, he would play those as well.\” The PGA Tour board, player directors, and Tiger Woods-led competition committee also have a say on suspensions and reportedly would heed Rory McIlroy’s advice to allow Koepka immediate return.
Update: It happened just like that. On Monday evening local time, news spread rapidly that Koepka is immediately eligible to play on the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines at the end of January. His participation at the Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona is already confirmed.
This is made possible by the recently introduced \”Returning Member Program,\” allowing select LIV players to reclaim PGA Tour membership without suspension.<