First start at the Farmers Insurance Open, Vijay Singh making a comeback, Charley Hull launching her own YouTube channel soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from LIV Golf’s 2026 season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will stay connected to the competing circuit but needs more family time. This was stated as a mutual agreement by LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, which was somewhat lacking in LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injuries that threatened his career and to secure a comfortable retirement fund. Thus, skipping the last contractual year is not surprising, although questions remain about buyouts or salary returns. He remains owner of his LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation surrounds where Koepka will next play. The DP World Tour would grant immediate playing rights, possibly with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension after his last LIV event, reduced from a lifetime ban previously imposed. Allowing prominent LIV returnees benefits the established Tour. According to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership which had lapsed after 2022.
An eventual suspension would end in August, coinciding with the 2026 season finale at the Tour Championship from August 27-30. Koepka would be eligible for 2027, fitting PGA Tour Enterprises’ planned schedule featuring about two dozen $20 million events with top-tier fields—a perfect timing for his return. Investors would welcome such a star’s comeback.
\”He might need some time, but I think he will return to the PGA Tour,\” said Jon Rahm recently on the \”Subpar\” podcast. \”He’ll probably play at least the minimum, and why not the big events he likes? If he qualifies or is invited to top events, he would participate.\” Influential parties—including the board, player directors, and the Tiger Woods-led competition committee—may overlook his suspension, following Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to allow Koepka back immediately. A majority of fans seem to agree, per a non-representative \”Bunkered\” magazine survey.
Update: \”And maybe they’ll give a five-time major winner a break in Ponte Vedra Beach\”—just so it happened. News spread rapidly that Koepka is immediately eligible to play on the PGA Tour, starting 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.
This became possible thanks to a newly introduced \”Returning Member Program,\” allowing select LIV players to reinstate their PGA Tour membership without suspension.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Golf Start for 2026
Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed he will compete in LIV Golf in 2026. His Crushers team with Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri remains unchanged for the fifth season. Interestingly, no general