First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh makes a comeback, Charley Hull to launch a YouTube channel 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is a competitor who thrives in top-level contests, something he lacked at LIV. Having joined LIV in 2022 during injury challenges to secure a solid retirement payout, his skipping the final contractual season is not surprising, though questions remain regarding buyouts or partial repayments. He still owns his LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculations abound about which tours Koepka will join next—DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible likely with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where a one-year suspension since his last LIV event remains, though former life bans have been greatly softened. Understanding that high-profile LIV returnees benefit the PGA Tour, ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reports Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership post-2022 and rejoin the player ranks.
His suspension would end in August, coinciding with the close of the 2026 season after the Tour Championship. Re-entry in 2027 fits Koepka’s preferred timing with the PGA Tour’s new schedule of around two dozen $20 million events and limited elite fields. PGA Tour Enterprises investors would also welcome such a marquee name. Jon Rahm stated recently on the \”Subpar\” podcast he expects Koepka to return, initially playing a minimum or selected big tournaments, potentially eased by the player directors and Tiger Woods-led competition committee, following Rory McIlroy’s endorsement.
Update: This has come to pass. On Monday evening local time, it broke that Koepka is immediately eligible to compete on the PGA Tour and will play the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines, and is confirmed for the WM Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Arizona.
This is enabled by the newly created \”Returning Member Program\” allowing select LIV players to rejoin the PGA Tour without suspension, with Koepka’s recent 2023 PGA Championship major validated.
The PGA Tour statement notes the special rule applies to major and Players winners in the last three years, with a deadline of February 2. CEO Brian Rolapp confirmed this unique opportunity is not precedent-setting, and may not recur, which concerns other LIV players like Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith.
Koepka’s penalty for LIV defection is mild: a $5 million PGA Tour charity donation, 2026 FedEx Cup bonus exclusion, and a five-year ban from PGA Tour equity sharing.