First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh wants another shot, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
Predictably, Brooks Koepka has opted out of the 2026 LIV Golf season, which starts on February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner intends to stay connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for family. This was apparently amicably agreed upon, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is a competitive type who thrives on high-level competition, something LIV had limited success in providing him. He originally joined LIV in 2022 mainly because of injury concerns ending his career and to secure substantial retirement funds. Thus, skipping the last contractual season is not surprising, though questions remain about financial settlements and his continued ownership of LIV team Smash GC, which has named Talor Gooch as the new captain.
Speculation abounds about where Koepka will next compete: the DP World Tour where he might play immediately, possibly with a penalty; or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension since his last LIV event, following former commissioner Jay Monahan’s softened lifetime bans. Why be vindictive when every returning LIV player benefits the more powerful tour? This key question seems partly answered: ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported that Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not extended after 2022, seeking full reinstatement.
His possible suspension would expire in August, overlapping the end of the 2026 season with the Tour Championship from August 27-30. Koepka would be eligible for 2027, coinciding with the PGA Tour’s compressed new schedule featuring nearly two dozen $20 million events with limited elite fields, an ideal comeback timing. This would also please investors at PGA Tour Enterprises, likely the new league’s operators, welcoming another big name.
\”He might need some time, but I think he’ll return to the PGA Tour,\” said Jon Rahm recently on the ‘Subpar’ podcast. \”He’ll probably play the minimum, and why not the tournaments he likes, the majors? If he qualifies or is invited to top events, he’ll play those too.\” Furthermore, the PGA’s board, players’ directors, and the Tiger Woods-led competition committee hold sway over suspensions and are reportedly inclined to accept Koepka’s return, echoing Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to allow him back immediately. This view is also popular among fans, according to a non-representative poll by \”Bunkered\” magazine.
Update: \”And maybe they’ll bend the rules for a five-time major winner in Ponte Vedra Beach\” – that is exactly what happened. News spread quickly that Koepka is now 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. Participation at the WM Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Arizona, is also confirmed.
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