First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager to compete again, Charley Hull soon launching her own YouTube channel. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time.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 mutually agreed upon, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, something he found limited at LIV. He originally joined LIV in 2022 due to injury-related career concerns and the opportunity for a good retirement fund. Thus, skipping the final contractual season is unsurprising, though questions remain about potential buyouts or salary repayments. Despite this, he remains the owner of LIV team Smash GC, with Talor Gooch now captain.
Speculation abounds about where Koepka will next compete — immediately eligible for the DP World Tour possibly with a penalty, or the PGA Tour where he faces a one-year suspension after his last LIV start. The lifetime bans imposed previously have been significantly eased. Returning to the PGA Tour aligns with both his interests and that of the Tour, which has welcomed returning LIV players. According to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022, seeking to rejoin the player circle.
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Koepka’s suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the conclusion of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship. He would be eligible to play in 2027 when the PGA Tour introduces its revamped schedule featuring nearly two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited elite fields. The timing is ideal for Koepka’s favored re-entry. PGA Tour Enterprises’ investors would likely welcome another high-profile name.
Jon Rahm recently told the \”Subpar\” podcast, \”He might need some time, but I think he will return to the PGA Tour. He will probably play at least the minimum, that is, the tournaments he likes, the big ones. And if he qualifies or is invited, he’ll likely play those too.\” The PGA Tour board, player directors, and the Tiger Woods-led competition committee, following Rory McIlroy’s recommendation, could grant leniency regarding his suspension.
Update: Just as expected, on Monday evening local time, news spread rapidly that Koepka is immediately eligible to play on the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines at the end of January. His participation in the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona is also confirmed.
This is made possible by the newly introduced “Returning Member Program” which allows selected LIV players to regain PGA Tour membership without suspension. Koepka’s sporting merits, especially