First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager for a comeback, 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains connected to the competing circuit but needs more time for family. This was a friendly agreement, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is a competitive type, highly motivated and firing up only during top-level competition, which he lacked somewhat at LIV. He switched to LIV in 2022 mainly because he thought his career might be ending due to injury and wanted a solid retirement income. So skipping the last contractual season is not surprising, though questions remain: Did he have to buy out his contract or repay part of his guaranteed salary? Does the 35-year-old remain owner of his LIV team Smash GC, which has appointed Talor Gooch as the new captain?
Speculations are rife about where Koepka will appear next. On the DP World Tour, where he would be eligible to play immediately—possibly after a penalty payment? Or on the PGA Tour, where he must sit out a one-year suspension since his last LIV appearance, after former commissioner Jay Monahan significantly softened lifetime bans? Why be vindictive when every prominent LIV returnee plays into the hands of the more powerful tour? This key question seems partially answered. According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka officially applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which he did not renew after 2022, in order to rejoin the player pool.
An eventual suspension would expire in August. The 2026 season ends with the Tour Championship from August 27-30, but Koepka would be eligible for 2027 when the PGA Tour launches its new schedule featuring roughly two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited elite fields. The perfect timing for a comeback, much to Koepka’s liking. Investors in PGA Tour Enterprises, likely the new top league’s backers, would surely appreciate another strong name.
\”He may need some time, but I think he’ll return to the PGA Tour,\” said Jon Rahm recently on the \”Subpar\” podcast. \”He will probably play at least the minimum, and why not the tournaments he likes, the big ones. If he then qualifies or gets into high-profile events, he’ll play those too.\” Perhaps the PGA Tour will be lenient to the five-time major winner—aside from the board, player directors and the Tiger Woods-led competition committee have a say on suspensions, following Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to allow Koepka to play again immediately.
Update: That’s exactly how it happened. On Monday evening local time, news spread rapidly that Koepka is eligible again for the PGA Tour effective immediately and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open end of January at Torrey Pines. Participation at the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona is also confirmed.
Made possible by the recently created \”Returning Member Program,\” a rule which permits select LIV players to rejoin the PGA Tour without suspension. In Koepka