First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager for more, Charley Hull coming soon to 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will remain connected to the competitor circuit but needs more time for family. This friendly agreement is the official statement from LIV CEO Scott McNeil. But Koepka is a competitor who thrives on top-level competition, which he lacked at LIV. He switched in 2022 mainly because injuries threatened his career’s end and wanted a decent retirement payout for his personal pension fund. So dropping the last contracted season is not surprising, though questions remain: Did he buy out or repay part of the guaranteed money? Does the 35-year-old remain owner of LIV team Smash GC, which already appointed Talor Gooch as captain?
Speculation is rife on which fairways Koepka will appear next. On the DP World Tour, where he would be eligible immediately – likely with a penalty? Or the PGA Tour, where a one-year suspension since his last LIV appearance applies after former commissioner Jay Monahan drastically softened lifetime bans? Why be vindictive when every LIV returnee benefits the longer-established tour? This key question seems partially answered. According to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, not extended after 2022, and be reinstated as a player.
Any suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the 2026 season-ending Tour Championship from August 27-30. Koepka would be eligible for 2027 when the PGA Tour launches a compressed schedule of about two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited, highly competitive fields. The perfect timing for Koepka’s comeback, sure to please investors in PGA Tour Enterprises backing the new top league who’d welcome a star like him.
“He might need some time, but I think he’ll return to the PGA Tour,” said Jon Rahm recently on the \”Subpar\” podcast. “He’ll probably play at least the minimum, the tournaments he likes, the big ones. If he then qualifies for top events, he’d play those too.” Perhaps the five-time major champ will get leniency in Ponte Vedra Beach — decisions involve the board, player directors, and Tiger Woods-led competition committee, following Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to reinstate Koepka immediately.
Update: That’s exactly what happened. 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 in late January at Torrey Pines. He is also confirmed to play the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona.
This is made possible by the recently created \”Returning Member Program,\” allowing selected LIV players to resume PGA Tour membership without suspension. Ko