First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager for more, Charley Hull launching on YouTube soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf League season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion will stay connected to the competing circuit but needs more time for family. This mutual agreement was confirmed by LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level sporting challenges and rarely gets fired up otherwise. His motivation for LIV was limited. He switched in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns, aiming to secure a substantial retirement fund. Therefore, skipping the last contractually required season is not surprising, though questions remain about buyouts or repayments. Meanwhile, he remains the owner of the LIV team Smash GC, which recently named Talor Gooch as captain.
Speculation abounds about which tours Koepka will compete on next. The DP World Tour would grant immediate eligibility, possibly with a penalty, or the PGA Tour where he must serve a one-year suspension following his last LIV appearance, after the lifetime bans imposed by former commissioner Jay Monahan were significantly softened. Why show vindictiveness when every returning LIV player—especially a prominent one with leverage—benefits the PGA Tour? This key question now partly answered: according to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which had not been extended post-2022, aiming to regain playing privileges.
Update: This has become reality. On Monday evening local time, news spread rapidly that Koepka is immediately eligible to play on the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines. His participation in the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, Arizona, is also confirmed.
This was made possible by the \”Returning Member Program,\” a rule established last Thursday allowing selected LIV players to rejoin the PGA Tour without suspension. Koepka’s sporting credentials, notably the 2023 PGA Championship as his fifth major, were considered.
The PGA Tour stated this special rule applies to major winners and Players champions from the past three years, expiring February 2. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp emphasized this is a one-time opportunity and does not set precedent. This move poses thoughts for Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith and causes unrest within LIV Golf.
Koepka’s penalties include a $5 million charity donation, exclusion from the 2026 FedEx Cup bonus system, and five years from PGA Tour Enterprises’ equity program.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Start for 2026
Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed he will compete in the 2026 LIV Golf League season. His Crushers team with Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri will continue into the fifth season unchanged. Notably, DeChambeau has not announced a contract extension, fueling speculation about behind-the-scenes arrangements to retain LIV’s most marketable player after Koepka’s departure.