First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager to play again, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
It was expected: Brooks Koepka has officially opted out of the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will stay connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for family. This was reportedly a mutual agreement, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. However, skepticism remains. Koepka is a competitor who only gets truly motivated by top-level competition, which he only somewhat found in LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 after injuries made him question his career’s longevity and to secure a substantial retirement fund. Thus, forgoing the final contract year is understandable, yet questions linger about buyouts or repayment of guaranteed pay. He remains the owner of the LIV team Smash GC, which recently appointed Talor Gooch as captain.
Speculation abounds about where Koepka will play 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 his last LIV appearance, now significantly reduced from a lifetime ban imposed by former commissioner Jay Monahan. Why be vindictive when every returning LIV player benefits the more powerful PGA Tour? This critical question seems partly answered. According to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022, seeking reinstatement into the player pool.
Any potential suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship from August 27-30. Koepka would then be eligible for 2027, aligning perfectly with the PGA Tour’s revamped schedule featuring about two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited, top-tier fields. This timing suits Koepka’s competitive nature, and investors in PGA Tour Enterprises 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 podcast ‘Subpar’. “He will probably at least play the minimum, and why not the tournaments he likes, the big ones? If he qualifies for or gets invites to high-profile events, he’ll play those too.” Furthermore, the player board and Tiger Woods-led competition committee—who influence suspension decisions—may be lenient towards the five-time major champion, backed by Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to allow Koepka to play again immediately. A majority of fans seem to share this view, according to a non-representative survey by Bunkered magazine.
Update: “Maybe they will turn a blind eye for a five-time major winner” – and that’s exactly what happened. News spread quickly that Koepka is immediately eligible for the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines. Also confirmed is his participation in the WGC Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, Arizona.
This became possible through a surprisingly introduced ‘Returning Member Program’ allowing select LIV players to reinstate PGA Tour membership without suspension.