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As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh.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 intends to stay connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka, known as a competitor who thrives on high-level challenges, lacked strong motivation at LIV. Having joined LIV in 2022 believing his career might end due to injury and to secure a solid retirement fund, his choice to skip the last contracted season is not surprising, though questions remain about financial arrangements and his ownership of LIV team Smash GC, which named Talor Gooch captain.
Speculation abounds about Koepka’s next playing grounds: the DP World Tour, potentially allowing immediate play despite possible fines, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension after his last LIV appearance. Previously lifetime bans were softened, signaling a more pragmatic approach favoring returning LIV players. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reports Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which ended after 2022, to rejoin the player pool.
See this post on Instagram
Koepka’s suspension would end in August, coinciding with the close of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship August 27-30. He would then be eligible for 2027 under the PGA Tour’s compressed new schedule featuring nearly two dozen $20 million events with limited elite fields, an ideal reentry moment. PGA Tour Enterprises investors would welcome another marquee name.
Jon Rahm recently noted on the Subpar podcast, \”He might need some time, but I think he’ll return to the PGA Tour. He’ll likely play at least the minimum events, focusing on big tournaments he likes. If he qualifies or gets invites to high-profile events, he will play those too.\” There may be leniency for a five-time major champ by the board, player directors, and Tiger Woods-led competition committee, following Rory McIlroy’s endorsement to allow Koepka’s immediate return. Fans also largely support this, according to a non-representative poll by Bunkered magazine.
Update: \”And perhaps they’ll overlook a suspension for the five-time major winner in Ponte Vedra Beach\” — just as it happened. News spread rapidly that Koepka is now eligible to play on the PGA Tour immediately, confirmed for the Farmers Insurance Open late January at Torrey Pines and the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, Arizona. This was enabled by a newly introduced ‘Returning Member Program’ allowing certain LIV players to regain PGA Tour membership without suspension.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Golf Return for 2026
Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau confirmed his participation in the 2026 LIV Golf League with