First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh is ready to compete again, Charley Hull to launch YouTube soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially opted out of the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will remain connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his family. This was amicably agreed upon, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeill. Koepka is a competitor who gets motivated and fired up only in high-level competition, which LIV partly lacked for him. He had initially joined LIV in 2022 mainly to secure a solid retirement fund after injuries threatened to end his career early. Thus, his skipping the final contracted season is not surprising, though questions remain if he needed to buy out his contract or repay part of his guaranteed salary. He still retains ownership of his LIV team Smash GC, captained now by Talor Gooch.
Speculation swirls around where Koepka will soon tee off next. The DP World Tour would grant him immediate playing rights—likely subject to a penalty—or the PGA Tour, where he must serve a one-year suspension since his last LIV event, with former Commissioner Jay Monahan’s lifetime bans having been significantly softened. Why hold grudges when every LIV returnee benefits the currently stronger PGA Tour? This question seems partially answered: According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not extended after 2022, to be reinstated as a member.
His suspension would end in August, coinciding with the close of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship (August 27–30). Koepka would then be eligible for 2027, when the PGA Tour introduces its new compressed schedule of nearly two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited elite fields—perfect timing for his comeback. Investors in PGA Tour Enterprises would surely welcome another marquee name.
\”He may need some time, but I think he will return to the PGA Tour,\” said Jon Rahm recently on the ‘Subpar’ podcast. \”He’ll likely play at least the minimum, and why not play the tournaments he likes, the big ones. And if he qualifies for high-level events or gains entry, he’ll play those too.\” Perhaps the five-time major champion will be given leniency by the PGA Tour leadership, including player representatives and the Tiger Woods-led competition committee, who follow Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to allow Koepka to play immediately.