First start already at Farmers, Vijay Singh back in action, Charley Hull to launch 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will remain connected to the competing circuit but needs more family time. This was reportedly agreed upon amicably, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. However, Koepka is a competitive type who thrives on high-level competition, which he found limited at LIV. He primarily joined LIV in 2022 due to injury concerns threatening his career and to secure a substantial retirement fund. Thus, skipping his final contracted season comes as no surprise, though questions linger whether he had to buy out his contract or repay part of his guaranteed salary. Koepka, 35, remains the owner of LIV team Smash GC, which has appointed Talor Gooch as captain.
Speculation is rife about where Koepka will next tee off—on the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible, potentially subject to a penalty fee? Or on the PGA Tour, where he would have to serve a one-year suspension since his last LIV appearance, following the significant softening of lifetime bans imposed by former Commissioner Jay Monahan? Why be vindictive when prominent LIV returnees actually benefit the more powerful PGA Tour? This key question seems partly answered. ESPN reporter Mark Schlabach revealed Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022, aiming to regain playing privileges.
Any suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship from August 27-30. Koepka would thus be eligible for 2027, perfectly timed with the PGA Tour’s new compressed schedule featuring nearly two dozen $20 million events with limited, top-tier fields. This suits Koepka’s preferences, and PGA Tour Enterprises investors would likely welcome such a marquee name.
\”He might need some time, but I think he’ll return to the PGA Tour,\” Jon Rahm recently said on the \”Subpar\” podcast. \”He’ll probably at least play the minimum, and why not the tournaments he likes, the big ones? If he qualifies for top events or gets invites, he’d play those too.\” Perhaps the PGA Tour will be lenient with a five-time major champion—players’ directors and Tiger Woods-led competition committee, including Rory McIlroy who advocates allowing Koepka to play immediately,