First start at Farmers, Vijay Singh making a comeback, Charley Hull launching on YouTube soon. 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will remain connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his family. This was agreed upon amicably, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. However, Koepka, known as a competitive type who thrives on high-level competition, did not seem fully motivated in LIV. He had originally joined LIV in 2022 mainly because of injury concerns ending his career and to secure a substantial retirement fund. Thus, skipping the final contractually obligated season is not surprising, though some questions linger. Did he buy out his contract or return part of his guaranteed fee? Does the 35-year-old remain owner of his LIV team Smash GC, which recently appointed Talor Gooch as captain?
Speculation intensifies regarding which fairways Koepka will soon appear on. Would it be the DP World Tour, where he would be eligible to play immediately—likely with a penalty? Or the PGA Tour, where he must serve a one-year suspension following his last LIV event, after former commissioner Jay Monahan reduced the lifetime bans? There is little reason for vindictiveness as every LIV returnee, especially a prominent one, ultimately benefits the more influential tour. According to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022, seeking readmission to the player pool.
An eventual suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship. Koepka would be eligible for 2027 when the PGA Tour rolls out its new schedule featuring nearly two dozen $20 million events with limited fields. This timing suits Koepka perfectly. PGA Tour Enterprises investors would likely welcome another marquee name to their top league.
Jon Rahm recently shared in the \”Subpar\” podcast, \”He might need some time, but I think he will return to the PGA Tour. He’ll probably play at least the minimum, and why not the tournaments he likes, the big ones. If he qualifies for high-profile events or is invited, he would definitely play those too.\” Perhaps an exception might be made for the five-time major winner by the PGA Tour Board, player directors, and the competition committee led by Tiger Woods, following Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to allow Koepka to play immediately.
Update: It happened just like that. On Monday evening local time, news spread rapidly that Koepka is immediately eligible to compete 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 WM Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Arizona is also confirmed.
This is enabled by a rule introduced last Thursday called the \”Returning Member Program,\” allowing selected LIV players to regain PGA Tour membership without suspension. In Koepka’s case, his sporting achievements, particularly the 2023 PGA Championship as his fifth major, were considered.
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