First start at the Farmers, Vijay Singh makes a comeback, Charley Hull launching on YouTube soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time. This was reportedly amicably agreed upon, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, which he rarely found at LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 mainly because of injury concerns and to secure a solid retirement fund. Hence, his skipping the last contractual season is not surprising, though questions remain about compensation or refunds. He also remains the owner of the LIV team Smash GC, with Talor Gooch as the new captain.
Speculation is rife about where Koepka will play next: the DP World Tour where he’s eligible immediately, perhaps with a penalty, or the PGA Tour where he faces a one-year suspension since his last LIV appearance. Former Commissioner Jay Monahan had issued lifetime bans that have now been significantly softened. Koepka reportedly applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership after not renewing post-2022, aiming to rejoin the players’ pool, according to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach.
An eventual suspension would end in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season and its Tour Championship. Koepka would then be eligible for 2027 under the PGA Tour’s new schedule of nearly two dozen $20 million events with limited top-tier fields—a perfect reentry moment fitting Koepka’s profile and attractive to PGA Tour Enterprises’ investors as a marquee name.
\”He might need some time, but I think he will return to the PGA Tour,\” Jon Rahm said on the \”Subpar\” podcast recently. \”He’ll likely play at least a minimum, probably the big events he likes. If he qualifies or gets invites to high-profile tournaments, he would play those as well.\” The suspension decision involves the board, player directors, and Tiger Woods-led competition committee, with recommendations from Rory McIlroy favoring Koepka’s immediate return. A majority of fans also support this, per a non-representative survey by \”Bunkered\” magazine.
Update: As predicted, Koepka has been granted immediate eligibility to play on the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines. Participation at the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona is also confirmed. This was made possible by a newly introduced \”Returning Member Program,\” which allows select LIV players to regain PGA Tour membership without suspension.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Start for 2026
Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed his participation in the 2026 LIV Golf League season. His Crushers team, including Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri, will continue unchanged into their fifth season. Interestingly, DeChambeau did not announce a general contract extension, fueling speculation about behind-the-scenes agreements to retain him after Koepka’s departure.
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