First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager for a comeback, Charley Hull launching on YouTube soon. 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf League season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for family. This, according to the official statement from LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is known as a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, something he found lacking in LIV Golf. He originally joined LIV in 2022 when facing career-threatening injuries, aiming to secure a solid retirement fund. His skipping the last contracted season is therefore not surprising, though questions remain about buyout terms and his ownership status in LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation abounds about which tour’s fairways Koepka will appear on next — the DP World Tour where he could play immediately, perhaps subject to a penalty, or the PGA Tour where he faces a one-year suspension post-LIV participation, reduced significantly from lifetime bans. According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which lapsed after 2022.
An eventual suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the Tour Championship closing the 2026 season. Koepka would then be eligible for the newly compressed PGA Tour schedule featuring nearly two dozen $20 million events with limited elite fields from 2027 onward, an ideal comeback timing. This would also be welcomed by PGA Tour Enterprises investors backing the new top league.
Jon Rahm recently expressed belief that Koepka will return to the PGA Tour, likely playing minimal events but focusing on the major tournaments he enjoys. With influence from Rory McIlroy and the Tiger Woods-led competition committee, there’s a good chance Koepka’s suspension will be eased. Indeed, on Monday evening local time, news spread that Koepka regained immediate PGA Tour eligibility and will compete at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines besides the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale.
This was enabled by the new \”Returning Member Program,\” allowing select LIV players to rejoin the PGA Tour without suspension based on recent major wins, notably Koepka’s 2023 PGA Championship victory. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp described the program as a unique, time-limited opportunity ending February 2 and not a precedent for the future. Meanwhile, Koepka must donate $5 million to PGA Tour charity funds, is excluded from 2026 FedEx Cup bonus systems and PGA Tour Enterprises equity participation for five years as a penalty for joining LIV.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Start for 2026
Bryson DeChambeau has officially confirmed his participation in LIV Golf’s 2026 season. His Crushers team with Charles Howell III, Paul Casey and Anirban Lahiri remains intact entering the fifth season. However, no general contract extension announcement was made, fueling speculation about behind-the-scenes negotiations post-Koepka’s departure to retain LIV’s most marketable player.