First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh wants to compete again, Charley Hull to launch YouTube channel soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf League season starting on February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time. This was reportedly amicably agreed, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is known as a competitor who thrives in top-level competition, which he found limited at LIV. He originally joined LIV in 2022 due to injury concerns and to secure a good retirement payout. Questions remain if he had to buy out his contract or refund part of his guaranteed fee. He remains owner of LIV team Smash GC, which named Talor Gooch as captain.
Speculation is rife over where Koepka will play next — the DP World Tour, likely with immediate eligibility but perhaps a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he must serve a one-year suspension following his last LIV event; lifetime bans were softened by former Commissioner Jay Monahan. ESPN’s Mark Schlabach revealed Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership to rejoin the player pool.
An expected suspension would expire in August, ending the 2026 season alongside the Tour Championship from August 27-30. Koepka would be eligible for 2027 under the PGA Tour’s revamped schedule featuring nearly two dozen $20 million events with limited elite fields — an ideal re-entry timing. PGA Tour Enterprises investors are likely pleased with adding a strong name.
Jon Rahm recently commented on the podcast ‘Subpar’ that Koepka will likely return, playing at least a minimal schedule focusing on big events he likes. The PGA Tour board, player directors, and Tiger Woods-led competition committee hold sway over suspension decisions, reportedly aligned with Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to reinstate Koepka immediately.
Update: It has come to pass that Koepka is immediately reinstated for PGA Tour play, confirmed to tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines, also confirmed for the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale.
This became possible through the newly created ‘Returning Member Program’ allowing selected LIV players to rejoin the PGA Tour without suspension. Koepka’s sporting merits, notably his 2023 PGA Championship win as a fifth major, were key factors.
The PGA Tour states this exception covers major and Players champions from the last three years, expiring February 2, and is a one-time opportunity not setting precedent, per CEO Brian Rolapp. The decision may concern Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith, and unsettle the LIV Golf League.
Koepka’s penalty for joining LIV is mild: a $5 million donation to PGA Tour charity, exclusion from the 2026 FedEx Cup bonus system, and a five-year ban from PGA Tour Enterprises’ equity program.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Start for 2026
Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau has officially confirmed playing in LIV