First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh aims for a comeback, and Charley Hull soon 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his family. This was amicably agreed upon, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, something he found limited in LIV. He originally joined LIV in 2022 due to injury concerns, aiming to secure a solid retirement fund. Thus, his opting out of the final contracted season is unsurprising, though questions remain regarding contractual payouts and ownership of his LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation now focuses on where Koepka will play next: the DP World Tour, where he could compete immediately likely with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension following his last LIV appearance. This suspension was softened from a lifetime ban previously issued by former commissioner Jay Monahan. Returning LIV players, especially stars like Koepka, ultimately benefit the PGA Tour’s competitive field. According to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reinstate his PGA Tour membership, which had not been renewed after 2022.
An eventual ban would end in August, coinciding roughly with the close of the 2026 season after the Tour Championship. This positions Koepka ideally for a 2027 return under the PGA Tour’s new schedule featuring around two dozen $20 million events with limited fields, a perfect fit for his competitive style. PGA Tour Enterprises investors would likely welcome his return as a lucrative asset.
Jon Rahm recently commented on the podcast \”Subpar\” that Koepka may take some time but is expected to return to the PGA Tour, possibly playing minimally and selecting his preferred major tournaments. The PGA Tour’s disciplinary decisions involve commissioners, player directors, and the competition committee led by Tiger Woods, with Rory McIlroy recommending Koepka’s immediate return.
Update: It happened: News spread Monday that Koepka is immediately eligible to play on the PGA Tour, starting at the Farmers Insurance Open late January in Torrey Pines, with the Phoenix Open also confirmed. This was enabled by the new \”Returning Member Program\” created last Thursday, allowing select LIV players to rejoin PGA Tour membership without suspension. Koepka’s recent 2023 PGA Championship win was a key factor.
The PGA Tour states this special rule applies to major winners and Players champions from the past three years, with a deadline of February 2. CEO Brian Rolapp called this a unique opportunity with no precedent and no guarantee of recurrence, a development causing reflection among players like Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith, and unease for LIV Golf.
Koepka’s penalties for defecting to LIV are mild: a $5 million donation to PGA Tour charity, exclusion from the 2026 FedEx Cup bonus, and a 5-year ban from the PGA Tour capital participation program