First start at the Farmers, Vijay Singh returns, Charley Hull launching YouTube channel soon. The Back Nine.
Brooks Koepka has officially opted out of the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains connected to the rival circuit but desires more family time, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka, a competitive spirit who thrives in top-level battles, showed limited motivation at LIV. His 2022 move to the Saudi-backed league was mainly because of injury concerns threatening his career and the opportunity to secure a pension fund for retirement. His decision to forgo the final contracted season thus raises questions: Did he buy out his contract or refund part of his guaranteed salary? Does he still own his LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch?
Speculation thrives about where Koepka will next make his mark. He could compete immediately on the DP World Tour, potentially facing a penalty, or on the PGA Tour, where a one-year suspension remains since his last LIV appearance. Lifetime bans imposed by former commissioner Jay Monahan have since been significantly softened. Reconciliation appears to be the path forward, especially since every returning LIV player benefits the PGA Tour. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach revealed Koepka formally applied last Friday to reinstate his PGA Tour membership and rejoin the player ranks.
Potential suspension would expire in August, aligning with the 2026 PGA Tour season’s conclusion at the Tour Championship from August 27-30. Koepka would be eligible for the 2027 season which introduces a condensed schedule with about two dozen $20 million tournaments featuring exclusive, highly competitive fields. This timing suits Koepka perfectly and would be welcomed by PGA Tour Enterprises’ investors overseeing the new top league.
Jon Rahm recently said on the \”Subpar\” podcast, \”He may need some time, but I think he’ll return to the PGA Tour. He’ll probably at least play the minimum events, and why not the tournaments he likes, the big ones? If he qualifies or can participate in high-profile events, he’ll surely play them.\” There’s even a possibility the PGA Tour might ease Koepka’s suspension, with influence from the player directors and Tiger Woods-led competition committee, following Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to readmit Koepka directly. Fans also apparently support this, according to a \”Bunkered\” magazine non-representative poll.
Update: \”And perhaps the five-time major champion’s suspension will be waived in Ponte Vedra Beach\” — this has happened. News spread quickly 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 at the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona is also confirmed. This move is enabled by a newly introduced \”Returning Member Program,\” allowing select LIV players to regain PGA Tour membership without suspension.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Start for 2026
Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed his participation in the 2026 LIV Golf League. His Crushers team, featuring Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri