First start at the Farmers, Vijay Singh returns, Charley Hull heads to 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for family. This was amicably agreed upon, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. However, Koepka is known as a highly competitive player who thrives on top-level competition, something he found limited on LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 mainly because of injury-related career concerns and to secure a substantial retirement fund. Thus, skipping the final contractual season is unsurprising, although questions remain about possible buyouts or repayment of guaranteed fees. Also, it’s uncertain if the 35-year-old remains an owner of his LIV team Smash GC, which has appointed Talor Gooch as captain.
Speculations abound about where Koepka will play next—possibly the DP World Tour, where he is immediately eligible likely with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he would have to serve a one-year suspension after his last LIV appearance, following the significant easing of the lifetime bans previously imposed by former Commissioner Jay Monahan. Why hold grudges when every LIV returnee benefits the PGA Tour? This question appears partially answered: According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which had not been renewed since 2022, to rejoin the player pool.
An eventual suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season and its Tour Championship from August 27 to 30. Koepka would then be eligible for 2027, coinciding with the PGA Tour’s new compressed schedule of about two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited elite fields — a perfect return moment appealing to Koepka. This would also please investors at PGA Tour Enterprises, likely the new top league’s backers, welcoming a high-profile name.
“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 probably at least play the minimum, and why not the tournaments he likes, the big ones. If he then qualifies for or can play high-profile events, he’ll play those too.” Perhaps the PGA Tour will give a five-time major champion some leniency; besides the board, player directors and the competition committee led by Tiger Woods also have a say regarding suspensions. Rory McIlroy has recommended allowing Koepka to play immediately, a view seemingly supported by a majority of fans in a non-representative “Bunkered” magazine poll.
Update: “And perhaps the PGA Tour will turn a blind eye for the five-time major winner in Ponte Vedra Beach” – this indeed happened. That evening, news spread rapidly that Koepka is immediately reinstated on the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines. His participation in the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, Arizona, is also confirmed.
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