First start already at Farmers, Vijay Singh wants to give it another go, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season, which starts February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains connected to the competing circuit but needs more time for family. This was the friendly agreement, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is a competitive type who thrives on high-level competition, which he found only partially in LIV. He had joined LIV in 2022 mainly because he feared his career was ending due to injury and sought a solid retirement payout. His skipping the last contractual season is thus not surprising, though questions remain about buyouts or guaranteed paybacks. He also remains the owner of LIV team Smash GC, which has named Talor Gooch as the new captain.
Speculations surface about where Koepka will appear next. The DP World Tour would immediately allow him to play, possibly upon paying a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension from his last LIV event, adjusted from a lifetime ban. But why be vindictive when every LIV returnee benefits the PGA Tour, which holds the leverage? According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reinstate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022.
Any potential suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the 2026 season’s end at the Tour Championship August 27-30. Koepka would be eligible for the 2027 season, which offers a new schedule with about two dozen $20 million tournaments and limited fields. A perfect timing for a comeback fitting Koepka’s style. Investors in PGA Tour Enterprises, likely the main body of the new top league, would welcome such a high-profile name.
Jon Rahm recently said on the \”Subpar\” podcast, \”He might need some time, but I think he will return to the PGA Tour. He’ll probably play at least the minimum, and why not play the tournaments he likes, the big ones. If he qualifies or gets in, he will play those too.\” There is speculation that the PGA Tour might be lenient with the suspension for a five-time major winner, with the decision influenced by the board, player directors, and Tiger Woods-led competition committee—also following Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to reinstate Koepka. This view is also popular among fans, according to a non-representative \”Bunkered\” poll.
Update: \”And maybe an eye will be turned for a five-time major winner in Ponte Vedra Beach\” – exactly that happened. It was widely reported that Koepka is immediately eligible for the PGA Tour and will appear at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines. His participation at the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona is also confirmed.
This became possible due to a newly introduced \”Returning Member Program,\” allowing selected LIV players to rejoin the PGA Tour without suspension.