First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh ready for another run, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected: Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the LIV Golf League’s 2026 season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his family. This was reportedly agreed upon amicably, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, which he found limited at LIV. He joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injuries threatening his career and the opportunity for a solid retirement fund. His forgoing the final contract year raises questions such as whether he had to buy out or refund part of his guaranteed salary, and whether he remains an owner of his LIV team, Smash GC, which has appointed Talor Gooch as new captain.
Speculation abounds about which fairways 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 since his last LIV event, after lifetime bans imposed by former commissioner Jay Monahan were significantly softened? Returning LIV players, especially high-profile ones, benefit the PGA Tour, so hostility seems unlikely. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which lapsed after 2022.
An expected suspension would end in August, coinciding with the 2026 season finale at the Tour Championship (August 27-30). Koepka would then be eligible for 2027 under the PGA Tour’s new schedule featuring about two dozen $20 million events with limited, top-ranked fields—a perfect timing suiting Koepka’s style. PGA Tour Enterprises investors would surely welcome another marquee name.
Jon Rahm recently told the \”Subpar\” podcast, \”He might need some time but I believe he’ll return to the PGA Tour. He’ll probably at least play the minimum, and why not the tournaments he likes, the big ones. If he qualifies or gains entry to high-profile events, he’d play those.\” The PGA Tour Board, player representatives, and Tiger Woods-led competition committee hold sway over suspension decisions. Rory McIlroy advocates Koepka’s immediate return.
Update: Koepka is now immediately eligible to play on the PGA Tour, starting with the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines. He’s also confirmed for the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, Arizona.
This became possible through the \”Returning Member Program,\” a regulation established last Thursday allowing select LIV players to rejoin the PGA Tour without suspension. Koepka’s recent achievements, notably the 2023 PGA Championship win, were decisive.
The PGA Tour stated the special condition applies to major champions and Players winners from the past three years, expiring February 2. CEO Brian Rolapp emphasized it as a one-time opportunity with no guarantee of future repetition. This could influence other LIV players like Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith, while unsettling the LIV Golf League.
Koepka’s penalty is