First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager to compete again, Charley Hull soon launching a YouTube channel. 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion will remain connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his family. This was agreed upon amicably, according to an official statement by LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, which he only partly found at LIV. He originally switched to LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns threatening his career and to secure a substantial retirement fund. Thus, skipping his last contractual season is not surprising, although questions remain about financial details and ownership of his LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation is rife about which tours Koepka will play on next—DP World Tour, where he could be eligible immediately potentially with a penalty, or PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension following his last LIV appearance after previous lifetime bans were softened. According to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which had not been renewed since 2022.
An eventual suspension would end in August. Although the 2026 season concludes with the Tour Championship that month, Koepka would be eligible for 2027 when the PGA Tour launches its condensed schedule featuring nearly two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited, top-tier fields—the perfect timing for his return and attractive for PGA Tour Enterprises investors.
\”He might need some time, but I think he will 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 qualifies or is invited to high-profile events, he will play those as well.\” There might be leniency granted for the five-time major winner since player directors and the Tiger Woods-led competition committee, also referencing Rory McIlroy’s recommendation for Koepka’s immediate return, have influence over suspensions.
Update: Indeed, Koepka is immediately eligible for the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines. He is also confirmed for the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, Arizona.
This was enabled by the \”Returning Member Program,\” a new rule created last Thursday allowing select LIV players to rejoin the PGA Tour without suspension. Koepka’s sporting merits, including his 2023 PGA Championship win, were recognized in this case.
The PGA Tour states this special rule applies to major and Players Championship winners from the last three years, with a deadline of February 2. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp called it a unique, clearly defined opportunity with no guarantee of recurrence, which may concern players like Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith and unsettle the LIV Golf League.
Koepka’s penalty for joining LIV is relatively