First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh aiming for a comeback, Charley Hull launching her own YouTube channel soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion will stay connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for family, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. However, Koepka is known as a competitor motivated by top-level challenges, something LIV has not fully provided. Having joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns and for financial security, his skipping the final contracted season is unsurprising, though questions remain about contract buyouts and his ownership stake in LIV’s Smash GC team, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation is rife about where Koepka will appear next: the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible possibly with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he must serve a one-year suspension after LIV appearances, albeit with lifetime bans softened by former commissioner Jay Monahan. According to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reinstate his PGA Tour membership, which lapsed after 2022.
His potential suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season. Koepka would be eligible for 2027, aligning with the PGA Tour’s new condensed schedule featuring nearly two dozen $20 million events with limited elite fields—a perfect return moment. This would also benefit PGA Tour Enterprises investors as a marquee player rejoins.
Jon Rahm recently expressed confidence in Koepka’s return during the \”Subpar\” podcast, expecting him to play selective major events once eligible. The PGA Tour’s governing board, player directors, and Tiger Woods-led competition committee may show leniency, echoing Rory McIlroy’s support for Koepka’s immediate play.
Update: Koepka has regained immediate PGA Tour eligibility and is set to tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines, with the WM Phoenix Open in Arizona also confirmed.
This is enabled by a new \”Returning Member Program\” rule allowing select LIV players to rejoin without suspension, considering Koepka’s recent performances including his 2023 PGA Championship win.
The PGA Tour states this special exemption for past three years’ major and Players champions expires February 2, with no future guarantee, prompting thought among players like Rahm, DeChambeau, and Smith and anxiety within LIV Golf.
Koepka’s penalties include a $5 million donation to PGA Tour charity, exclusion from 2026 FedEx Cup bonuses, and a 5-year ban from PGA Tour Enterprises equity programs.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Start for 2026
Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau officially announced his 2026 participation in the LIV Golf League. His Crushers team with Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri will continue unchanged into the