First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh aiming for a comeback, Charley Hull launching a YouTube channel soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for family. This was mutually agreed upon, according to official LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s statement. However, Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level sport and has only been partially motivated at LIV. Having joined LIV in 2022 mainly because of injury concerns and to secure a substantial retirement fund, it is not surprising that he is foregoing the last contractual season. Questions remain whether he had to buy out or return part of his guaranteed pay and whether he remains an owner of LIV team Smash GC, which appointed Talor Gooch as new captain.
Speculations abound regarding which tour Koepka will join next — the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible likely after a fine? Or the PGA Tour, where he must serve a one-year suspension since his last LIV event after former Commissioner Jay Monahan reduced the lifetime bans? Why be vindictive when every returning LIV player, especially a high-profile one, benefits the established tour? According to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership that was not renewed after 2022.
Koepka’s suspension is expected to expire in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship from August 27-30. He would then be eligible for the 2027 season, which will feature nearly two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited, elite fields — a perfect time for his return. PGA Tour Enterprises investors would welcome such a high-profile player.
Jon Rahm recently commented on the podcast \”Subpar\” that Koepka might need time but will return to the PGA Tour. Rahm suggested Koepka might play at least the minimum events and focus on the major tournaments he prefers. The PGA Tour’s board, player directors, and Tiger Woods-led competition committee have influence over suspension matters and may follow Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to allow Koepka back immediately.
Update: It has indeed happened. On Monday evening local time, news spread rapidly that Koepka is immediately eligible to play on the PGA Tour, with confirmed entries at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines and the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona.
This was made possible by the newly created \”Returning Member Program\” introduced last Thursday, enabling select LIV players to