First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager to compete again, Charley Hull soon launching on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected: Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion will stay connected to the competing circuit but needs more time for his family. This was agreed upon amicably, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is a competitor who gets highly motivated and fired up only during top-level competition, which he found limited in LIV. He switched to LIV in 2022 mainly because of injury concerns threatening his career and to secure a good retirement fund. Thus, skipping the final contracted season is not surprising, though questions linger about buyout or refunding part of his guaranteed salary. The 35-year-old remains the owner of the LIV team Smash GC, which named Talor Gooch as its new captain.
Speculation abounds about which fairways Koepka will next appear on. He could play immediately on the DP World Tour–likely with a penalty? Or on the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension from his last LIV start, after the lifetime bans from former Commissioner Jay Monahan were significantly softened. Why be vindictive when every LIV returnee, especially a high-profile one, benefits the longer-established Tour? This key question seems partially answered. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022, and to be readmitted to the playing group.
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Any suspension would expire in August. Although the 2026 season ends with the Tour Championship from August 27 to 30, Koepka would be eligible to play in 2027 when the PGA Tour introduces a compressed schedule featuring nearly two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited fields, perfectly timed for his comeback. Investors in PGA Tour Enterprises, likely behind the new top league, would welcome another marketable star.
\”He might need some time, but I think he will return to the PGA Tour,\” said Jon Rahm recently on the \”Subpar\” podcast. \”He’ll probably play at least the minimum, I’d say, and why not the tournaments he likes, the big ones. If he qualifies or gets invited to high-profile events, he’ll play those too.\” Perhaps the PGA Tour will be lenient with the five-time major winner—besides the board, the player directors and the competition committee led by Tiger Woods have a say on suspensions and seem to follow Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to let Koepka play immediately.
Update: It’s official. On Monday evening local time, news spread quickly that Koepka is immediately eligible to play on the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines at the end of January. His participation at the World Golf Championships Phoenix Open in TPC Scottsdale