First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh is ready for another run, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains connected to the rival circuit but wants more time for family. LIV CEO Scott McNeil confirmed a friendly agreement. Koepka, known for thriving in top-level competition, showed limited motivation in LIV and originally joined mainly to secure retirement funds due to injury concerns. His skipping the final contracted season is thus not surprising, though questions remain about contractual buyouts and his ownership of Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation surrounds where Koepka will play next. Will it be the DP World Tour, with immediate eligibility, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension from his last LIV event? Former PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan had initially imposed life bans but later eased them. ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reported Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership after 2022.
An eventual suspension would end in August, coinciding with the 2026 Tour Championship. For 2027, Koepka could compete under the PGA Tour’s revised schedule with premium, limited fields, an ideal comeback scenario favored by PGA Tour Enterprises investors. Jon Rahm recently expressed confidence Koepka would return to the Tour, likely playing select major events. The player directors and Tiger Woods-led competition committee, who influence suspensions, might also align with Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to reinstate Koepka promptly.
Update: It has happened: Koepka was cleared Monday night to immediately play on the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open late January in Torrey Pines. His participation at the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale is also confirmed.
This was made possible by the recently introduced \”Returning Member Program,\” allowing select LIV players to rejoin the PGA Tour without suspension. Koepka’s recent merits, especially the 2023 PGA Championship win, were taken into account.
The PGA Tour states this special provision applies to major and Players winners of the past three years, expiring February 2. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp calls it a one-time, clearly defined opportunity, not setting precedent, and warns future availability is uncertain. This decision likely causes reflection among Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith and discomfort within LIV Golf.
Koepka’s penalty for joining LIV is mild: a $5 million donation to PGA Tour charity, exclusion from 2026 FedEx Cup bonuses, and five years absence from the Tour’s equity program funded by investors.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Golf Start for 2026
Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed his participation in the 2026 LIV Golf League. His Crushers team, featuring Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri, will remain unchanged for the fifth season. However, no