First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh wants to play again, 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the competing circuit but needs more time for his family. This was reportedly agreed upon amicably, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is a competitive type who gets motivated and fired up primarily by high-level competition, something he lacked at LIV. He originally joined LIV in 2022 mainly because he feared his career might be ending due to injuries and wanted a good retirement fund. Therefore, skipping the last contracted season is unsurprising, though questions remain such as whether he had to buy out or repay some guaranteed money, and if the 35-year-old remains an owner of LIV team Smash GC, which has appointed Talor Gooch as the new captain.
Speculation is growing about which fairways Koepka will soon appear on. He would be immediately eligible on the DP World Tour, possibly with a penalty, or on the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension since his last LIV event, following the significant reduction of prior lifetime bans issued by former commissioner Jay Monahan. Why be vindictive when every returning LIV player, especially a prominent one, benefits the PGA Tour which holds the upper hand? This key question now seems partly answered: according to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership not renewed after 2022 and to be reinstated as a player.
Any suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the conclusion of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship from August 27 to 30. Koepka would be eligible to play in 2027 under the PGA Tour’s new condensed schedule featuring nearly two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited, highly competitive fields. This is the perfect timing for a comeback, fitting Koepka’s preferences. PGA Tour Enterprises’ investors, likely supporters of the new top league, would surely welcome another big name. \”He might need some time, but I think he’ll return to the PGA Tour,\” said Jon Rahm recently on the ‘Subpar’ podcast. \”He’ll probably play at least the minimum, including the big tournaments he likes. If qualified for or invited to high-profile events, he’d play those as well.\” Perhaps the PGA officials will be lenient with a five-time major winner—besides the board, player directors and a competition committee led by Tiger Woods have a say on suspensions and apparently follow Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to let Koepka play immediately.
Update: Exactly so. Monday evening local time, news spread rapidly that Koepka is immediately eligible for PGA Tour play and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey