First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh wants to give it another go, Charley Hull soon also 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will stay connected to the competing circuit but needs more time for family. This was reportedly a friendly agreement, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is a competitor who gets highly motivated and fired up during high-level competition, which he experienced only to a limited extent in LIV. He originally joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns and to secure a solid retirement fund. Thus, his opting out of the last contracted season is not surprising, although questions remain about any buyout or repayment of guaranteed fees. He remains the owner of his LIV team Smash GC, which has appointed Talor Gooch as the new captain.
Speculation is rife about which fairways Koepka will appear on next. On the DP World Tour, he would be eligible to play immediately – likely with a penalty. Or the PGA Tour, where he would be serving a one-year suspension since his last LIV appearance due to the former Commissioner’s reduction of lifetime bans. It makes strategic sense for the PGA Tour to welcome back high-profile LIV returnees, strengthening the Tour’s leverage. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported that Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which had not been extended after 2022, aiming to rejoin the player pool.
An eventual suspension would end in August, coinciding with the conclusion of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship. Koepka would be eligible for 2027, when the PGA Tour’s new schedule compresses nearly two dozen $20 million events with limited elite fields, a perfect reentry timing suiting Koepka’s preferences. PGA Tour Enterprises’ investors would also welcome another marquee name in their new top league.
\”He may need some time, but I think he will return to the PGA Tour,\” Jon Rahm recently said on the \”Subpar\” podcast. \”He’ll probably play at least the minimum, and why not the big events he likes? If he then qualifies for or is invited to top tournaments, he would play those too.\” The PGA Tour’s board, player directors, and Tiger Woods-led competition committee have influence over suspensions and may follow Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to allow Koepka immediate play.
Update: This is exactly what happened. On Monday evening local time, news spread rapidly that Koepka is immediately eligible for the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines at the end of January. His participation at the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale is also confirmed.
This was made possible by a new rule created last Thursday called the \”Returning Member Program,\” allowing selected LIV players to regain PGA Tour membership without suspension. In Koepka’s case, his recent sporting merits, especially the 2023 PGA Championship as his fifth major, were considered.
The PGA Tour stated the exemption applies to