First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager for more, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf League season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but requires more family time. This was amicably agreed upon, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. However, Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level competition and rarely found that motivation with LIV. He joined LIV in 2022 primarily due to injury concerns and the chance to secure a solid retirement fund, so skipping his final contractual season is not surprising, though some questions remain about financial buyouts and his continued ownership of the Smash GC LIV team captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculations abound about which fairways Koepka will play on next—whether the DP World Tour where he would be immediately eligible, possibly with a fine, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension from his last LIV event, following the recent easing of former Commissioner Jay Monahan’s lifetime bans. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported that last Friday Koepka formally applied to reinstate his PGA Tour membership, which had not been renewed after 2022, seeking readmission among the players.
An eventual suspension would lapse in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship from August 27-30. Koepka would then be eligible for 2027, just as the PGA Tour plans to condense its schedule to about two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited elite fields—a perfect opportunity for his comeback. This move would also please investors at PGA Tour Enterprises backing the new top league, welcoming Koepka’s star power.
Jon Rahm recently commented on the podcast ‘Subpar’ that Koepka might need time but is expected to return to the PGA Tour, playing at least the tournaments he prefers, especially the big ones. The PGA Tour’s board, player directors, and Tiger Woods-led competition committee hold sway over suspension decisions, with Rory McIlroy already endorsing Koepka’s immediate return.
Update: The news broke Monday evening local time that Koepka is now immediately eligible for the PGA Tour and is confirmed to tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open late January in Torrey Pines, with an appearance at the WM Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Arizona, also confirmed.
This is enabled by the newly created ‘Returning Member Program’, allowing select LIV players to rejoin the PGA Tour without suspension. Koepka’s athletic merits, including his 2023 PGA Championship win, were key factors.
The PGA Tour stated this special rule applies only to major and Players Championship winners from the last three years, with a deadline of February 2. CEO Brian Rolapp emphasized this is a one-time opportunity without precedent for future cases. This development will likely impact prominent LIV players like Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith, and cause unease within the LIV Golf League.
Koepka’s sanctions for joining LIV