First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager for 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh.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 intends to stay connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for family, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, which he found limited at LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 mainly to secure a retirement payout due to injuries potentially ending his career early. Questions remain whether he paid a buyout or returned part of his guaranteed salary, and if he still owns his LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation surrounds where Koepka will next compete: the DP World Tour, for which he would be immediately eligible—possibly with a penalty—or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension following his last LIV appearance after previous lifetime bans were softened. This key question seems partially answered: ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership and rejoin the player ranks.
Any suspension would end in August, coinciding with the 2026 season’s conclusion at the Tour Championship from August 27-30. Koepka would be eligible to play in 2027 when the PGA Tour’s new compressed schedule with nearly two dozen $20 million tournaments featuring limited elite fields launches—the perfect timing for his return. PGA Tour Enterprises investors would welcome another major star.
Jon Rahm recently said on the “Subpar” podcast, \”He might need some time, but I think he’ll return to the PGA Tour. He’ll probably play the minimum, and why not the big events he likes? If he qualifies or gets into big tournaments, he’ll play those too.\” The PGA Tour’s board, player directors, and Tiger Woods-led competition committee reportedly favor reinstating Koepka, following Rory McIlroy’s recommendation.
Update: It happened as predicted. Monday evening brought widespread news of Koepka’s immediate reinstatement to the PGA Tour, with commitments to the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines and the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale already confirmed.
The “Returning Member Program,” introduced last Thursday, allows certain LIV players to resume PGA Tour membership without suspension. Koepka’s notable