First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh aims for a comeback, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains connected to the rival circuit but wants more time for his family. This was reportedly agreed upon amicably, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is a competitor who gets motivated and fired up only by high-level competition, something LIV provided only moderately. He joined LIV in 2022 mainly because injuries made him think his career was ending and wanted a good retirement fund. Thus, skipping the last contractual season is unsurprising, though questions remain. Did he have to buy out part of his guaranteed pay? Does the 35-year-old remain owner of the LIV team Smash GC, which has already named Talor Gooch as the new captain?
Speculations abound on which tours Koepka will play next: the DP World Tour, where he could play immediately possibly with a fine, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension since his last LIV appearance, though the former Commissioner Jay Monahan’s life bans have been softened. Why hold a grudge when any LIV returnee, especially a high-profile one, benefits the stronger PGA Tour? This key question seems partly answered. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022, to rejoin the playing field.
The possible suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season with the Tour Championship from August 27-30. Koepka would be eligible for 2027 when the PGA Tour introduces its compressed schedule featuring around two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited, well-ranked fields. A perfect timing for a comeback, fitting Koepka’s style. PGA Tour Enterprises investors, who likely back the new top league, would welcome another star name.
\”He might need some time, but I think he’ll return to the PGA Tour,\” Jon Rahm recently said on the \”Subpar\” podcast. \”He’ll probably play at least the minimum, and why not the tournaments he likes, the big ones. If he qualifies for or is invited to high-level tournaments, he’ll play those too.\” Moreover, for a five-time major winner, the PGA Tour might overlook certain penalties — alongside the board, player directors and Tiger Woods-led competition committee have say, and Rory McIlroy recommends allowing Koepka to play right away.
Update: It happened exactly like this. Monday evening local time, news spread rapidly that Koepka is immediately eligible to play on the PGA Tour again and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in late January. His participation in the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona is also confirmed.
This was made possible by a new rule named the \”Returning Member Program,\” announced last Thursday