First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager to compete again, Charley Hull soon launching on YouTube. 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time. This was reportedly a friendly agreement, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, something LIV lacked for him. He joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns and to secure solid retirement money. Thus, skipping the final contracted season is not surprising, though questions remain about whether he had to buy out or repay part of his guaranteed salary. He still owns his LIV team Smash GC, which named Talor Gooch captain.
Speculation runs high about which fairways Koepka will appear on next—DP World Tour, where he could play immediately likely with a penalty, or PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension following his last LIV event after lifetime bans were reduced. Why hold grudges when every returning LIV player, especially a prominent one, benefits the established PGA Tour? This question seems partly answered: ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership after not renewing since 2022.
Update: \”Perhaps a five-time major winner gets some leniency in Ponte Vedra Beach\” – indeed it happened. News spread rapidly that Koepka is immediately eligible to play on the PGA Tour, starting with the Farmers Insurance Open late January at Torrey Pines. His participation at the WM Phoenix Open in Scottsdale has also been confirmed. This was made possible by a newly introduced \”Returning Member Program\” allowing selected LIV players to rejoin the PGA Tour without suspension.
Any suspension would end in August, coinciding with the close of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship August 27-30. Koepka would be eligible for 2027, aligning with the PGA Tour’s new condensed schedule of nearly two dozen $20 million tournaments featuring limited strong fields—ideal timing for his comeback and appealing for PGA Tour Enterprises investors backing the league.
\”He may need some time, but I think he will return to the PGA Tour,\” said Jon Rahm recently on the \”Subpar\” podcast. \”He’ll likely play at least the minimum, maybe the big tournaments he enjoys. If he qualifies or gets invites for high-profile events, he’ll play those as well.\” There is potential leniency from the PGA Tour Board, player directors, and the Tiger Woods-led competition committee, following Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to allow Koepka back immediately. A majority of fans seem to agree, as per a non-representative \”Bunkered\” magazine poll.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Start for 2026
Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed he will compete in the 2026 LIV Golf League season. His Crushers team with Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri proceeds unchanged into the fifth season. Interestingly, no general contract