First start already at Farmers, Vijay Singh back in action, Charley Hull launching on YouTube soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka, known for his competitive drive at the highest level, struggled to find motivation in LIV. He switched to the Saudi-backed league in 2022 due to injury concerns and to secure a comfortable retirement fund. Although many questions remain about contract details and his ownership of the LIV team Smash GC, recently led by Talor Gooch, speculation grows about which fairways Koepka will next appear on.
Possibilities include the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible, likely with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where a one-year suspension awaits after his last LIV appearance, though lifetime bans imposed by former commissioner Jay Monahan have been significantly softened. According to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership and rejoin the player pool after leaving in 2022.
Update: \”And perhaps an eye will be turned for a five-time major winner in Ponte Vedra Beach\” – just so it happened. News spread quickly that Koepka is immediately eligible to play on the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in late January. He is also confirmed for the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona. This is enabled by a newly introduced \”Returning Member Program\” allowing selected LIV players to regain PGA Tour membership without suspension.
An expected suspension would have ended in August, coinciding with the conclusion of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship (August 27-30). Koepka would be eligible for 2027, conveniently timed with the PGA Tour’s new condensed schedule of about two dozen $20 million events with elite limited fields, the perfect moment for his comeback. Investors behind PGA Tour Enterprises, likely the new top league’s backers, would welcome such a high-profile name.
\”He might need some time, but I think he will return to the PGA Tour,\” said Jon Rahm recently on the \”Subpar\” podcast. \”He’ll probably at least play the minimum, and why not the tournaments he likes, the big ones. If he qualifies or is invited to high-profile events, he’ll play those too.\” The PGA Tour board, player directors, and the competition committee led by Tiger Woods all reportedly hold influence over suspension decisions and favor allowing Koepka to play, following Rory McIlroy’s recommendation. Similarly, a majority of fans support this, according to a non-representative \”Bunkered\” magazine survey.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Golf Start in 2026
Bryson DeChambeau has officially confirmed he will participate in the 2026 LIV Golf League season. His Crushers team with Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri continues unchanged into the fifth campaign. However, DeChambeau