First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager to compete again, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
Expected: Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion stays connected with the rival circuit but needs more time for his family. This friendly agreement was confirmed by LIV CEO Scott McNeil. However, Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, something that was limited in LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 after injury concerns and to secure a solid retirement payout. His decision to skip the last contractual season is not surprising, though questions remain about any potential buyout or paybacks. Koepka remains the owner of LIV team Smash GC, which recently appointed Talor Gooch as new captain.
Speculations arise about Koepka’s next golfing stage: DP World Tour where he would be eligible to play immediately, possibly with a penalty, or PGA Tour, where he would have to serve a one-year suspension following his last LIV appearance after previously exempted lifetime bans were softened. Given that every LIV returnee strengthens the established tour, this question seems partially answered. According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, last Friday Koepka formally applied for reinstatement of his PGA Tour membership, which was not extended after 2022, seeking to rejoin the player field.
An eventual suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship. Koepka would then be eligible for 2027 when the PGA Tour introduces a new schedule with about two dozen $20 million tournaments and fully stacked limited player fields. This timing is ideal for Koepka’s preferred comeback and would please investors in PGA Tour Enterprises backing the new top league.
Jon Rahm recently expressed confidence on the \”Subpar\” podcast that Koepka will return to the PGA Tour, likely playing selected major tournaments and those he enjoys. PGA Tour’s board, player directors, and competition committee led by Tiger Woods hold influence on suspensions and reportedly support allowing Koepka to compete again, following Rory McIlroy’s advocacy.
Update: News broke Monday evening that Koepka is immediately eligible to compete on the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines, also confirmed for the WM Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Arizona. This is enabled by the new \”Returning Member Program\” created last Thursday, allowing selected LIV players to rejoin the Tour without suspension, considering recent major winners including Koepka’s 2023 PGA Championship title. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp stated this is a unique, well-defined opportunity that does not set a precedent and expires on February 2. This development may cause unrest among LIV Golf and others like Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith.
Koepka’s penalty for switching to LIV is mild: a $5 million donation to the PGA Tour charity, exclusion from FedEx Cup bonus in 2026, and a five-year bar from the Tour’s capital participation program supported by investor funds.