First start already at the Farmers; Vijay Singh wants to compete again; Charley Hull soon on YouTube. 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time. LIV CEO Scott McNeil confirmed this amicable agreement. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, which he lacked at LIV. He primarily joined LIV in 2022 to secure a solid retirement fund due to injury concerns. Thus, skipping the last contractual season is not surprising, though questions remain about buyouts or salary repayments. He also remains the owner of the LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation surrounds where Koepka will compete next—DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible (possibly with a penalty), or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension after his last LIV appearance, following reduced lifetime bans. According to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership lost after 2022.
An eventual suspension would end in August, coinciding with the 2026 season finale at the Tour Championship. Koepka would be eligible to play in 2027 when the PGA Tour unveils its new schedule with nearly two dozen $20 million events featuring limited fields—ideal timing for his comeback. PGA Tour Enterprises investors would welcome another star name.
Jon Rahm recently stated on the \”Subpar\” podcast that Koepka may need time but is expected to return to the PGA Tour, playing at least the minimum and likely his preferred high-profile events. The PGA Tour’s competition committee, led by Tiger Woods, along with player directors, influence suspension decisions and reportedly support Koepka’s reinstatement, aligned with Rory McIlroy’s recommendation.
Update: The news spread rapidly on Monday evening that Koepka is immediately PGA Tour eligible and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines. He is also confirmed for the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, Arizona.
This is enabled by the newly introduced \”Returning Member Program,\” allowing select LIV players to regain PGA Tour membership without suspension. Koepka’s sporting merits were considered, including his 2023 PGA Championship win as his fifth major.
The PGA Tour states this special rule applies to major and Players champions from the past three years, with a deadline of February 2. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp said it is a one-time opportunity and not a precedent for future cases. This likely concerns players like Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith and causes unease in LIV Golf.
Koepka must pay $5 million to the PGA Tour’s charity fund and is excluded from the 2026 FedEx Cup bonus and five years from the PGA Tour capital participation program linked to PGA Tour Enterprises investors.