First start already at the Farmers; Vijay Singh is back on the PGA Tour; Charley Hull launching her own YouTube channel 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 champion will remain connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for family. This was reportedly agreed upon amicably, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. But Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, which he only partly found in LIV. His 2022 move to the Saudi-backed tour was mainly due to injury concerns about his career ending, aiming to secure a solid retirement fund. Thus, skipping the contractually required final season is not surprising, though questions remain about financial settlements and his ownership status in his LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation is rife about which tours Koepka might play on next. He would be immediately eligible for the DP World Tour, possibly after a penalty payment, or on the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension since his last LIV appearance, after lifetime bans from former commissioner Jay Monahan were softened. It makes sense not to be vindictive since any prominent LIV returnee benefits the more influential PGA Tour. This key question seems partly answered: According to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership and be reinstated into the playing field after not renewing post-2022.
The 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 with the PGA Tour’s new schedule featuring roughly two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited, high-profile fields—the perfect timing for a comeback, fitting Koepka’s competitive style. PGA Tour Enterprises’ investors would appreciate another big name on board.
\”He might need some time, but I think he’ll return to the PGA Tour,\” said Jon Rahm recently. \”He’ll probably play at least the minimum, the events he likes, the big ones. If he qualifies for high-profile events or gets invites, he’d play those too.\” Perhaps a leniency towards the five-time major winner is possible; decisions on suspensions involve the board, player directors, and the Tiger Woods-led competition committee, following Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to allow Koepka to play immediately.
Update: It happened just like that. Late Monday local time, news spread rapidly that Koepka was reinstated to the PGA Tour immediately, set to tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines. His participation at the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale also confirmed.
This became possible through the \”Returning Member Program,\” a rule created last Thursday that permits select LIV players to regain PGA Tour membership without suspension.