First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager to compete again, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially opted out of the LIV Golf League season in 2026 that begins February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the competing circuit but needs more time with his family, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s friendly statement. Koepka is known as a competitor who thrives on top-level contests, something he found somewhat lacking at LIV. In 2022, he mainly joined the Saudi-backed league during a time he feared injuries might end his career prematurely, and sought substantial retirement earnings. His waiver of the final contracted season is therefore not surprising, though questions remain whether he had to pay a buyout or return part of his guaranteed paycheck. He still owns the LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation is rampant about where Koepka will appear next. He would be immediately eligible to play on the DP World Tour, perhaps with a penalty, or return to the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension since his last LIV event, following a significant reduction of the lifetime bans imposed by former commissioner Jay Monahan. Why hold grudges when every returning LIV star benefits the tours wielding more power? The question seems partly answered: ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reported that last Friday Koepka formally applied to reinstate his PGA Tour membership, which he did not renew after 2022.
An eventual suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season during the Tour Championship from August 27-30. Koepka would thus be eligible for 2027, when the PGA Tour introduces a new condensed schedule of about two dozen $20 million tournaments with elite limited fields — a perfect comeback timing suiting Koepka’s style. PGA Tour Enterprises investors, likely behind the upcoming top league, would welcome another high-profile name.
\”He might need some time, but I think he’ll return to the PGA Tour,\” Jon Rahm recently said on the \”Subpar\” podcast. \”He’ll probably play the minimum at least, and why not the tournaments he likes, the big ones? If he then qualifies or gets invites to top events, he would play those too.\” It remains possible that the PGA Tour, including the player directors and the competition committee led by Tiger Woods, might overlook Koepka’s suspension — following Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to reinstate him immediately.
Update: Indeed, it happened just like that. On Monday evening local time, news spread fast that Koepka is immediately eligible to play on the PGA Tour again and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in late January. His participation at the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona is also confirmed.
This was made possible by the recently established \”Returning Member Program,\” which allows selected LIV players to rejoin the PGA Tour without suspension. Koepka’s sporting merits, especially his 2023 PGA Championship win as his fifth major, were taken into account.
The PGA Tour stated this