First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager for a comeback, Charley Hull soon launching 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains connected to the competing circuit but needs more time for his family. This was agreed on amicably, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is a competitor who gets highly motivated and fired up only by high-level competition, which he only partially found at LIV. He originally joined LIV in 2022 primarily because he thought his career might be ending prematurely due to injuries and wanted a significant retirement fund. Thus, his skipping the final contractual season is not surprising, though questions remain. Did he have to buy out? Repay part of the guaranteed money? Does the 35-year-old remain owner of the LIV team Smash GC, which has named Talor Gooch as the new captain?
Mostly, speculation is rife about where Koepka will play next. On the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible — possibly with a penalty? Or on the PGA Tour, where he must serve a one-year suspension since his last LIV participation, after former commissioner Jay Monahan’s lifetime bans were significantly softened? Why be vindictive when every LIV returnee, especially a prominent one, benefits the PGA Tour, which holds the stronger leverage? This critical question now partly answered: According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022, to be reinstated as a tour player.
An eventual suspension would end in August. Although the 2026 season including the Tour Championship runs until August 30, Koepka would be eligible to play in 2027 when the PGA Tour schedules nearly two dozen $20 million events with limited and stronger fields — a perfect moment for a comeback suiting Koepka’s style. PGA Tour Enterprises investors would surely welcome another big name.
\”He might need some time, but I think he will return to the PGA Tour,\” Jon Rahm said recently on the \”Subpar\” podcast. \”He’ll probably play at least the minimum, the tournaments he likes, the big ones. If he qualifies or gets into top events, he would play those too.\” Perhaps the five-time major champion will get some leniency at Ponte Vedra Beach — suspension decisions involve the board, player directors, and the competition committee led by Tiger Woods, following Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to allow Koepka back immediately.
Update: It happened just like that. Monday evening local time, it spread quickly that Koepka is immediately eligible to play on the PGA Tour and will tee off already at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines. His appearance at the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona is also confirmed.
Made possible by the recently created \”Returning Member Program\” allowing selected LIV players to rejoin the PGA Tour without suspension. In Koepka’s case, his competitive merits, especially the 2023