First start at the Farmers, Vijay Singh returns, Charley Hull launching a YouTube channel soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the competing circuit but needs more time for family. This was reportedly agreed upon amicably, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is a competitor who thrives in high-level competition, something less present in LIV. He originally joined LIV in 2022 due to injury concerns about ending his career early and to secure a solid retirement payout. Hence, his skipping the final contract year is not surprising, though questions remain: Did he buy out of the contract or repay part of his guaranteed fee? Does he still own his LIV team Smash GC, which named Talor Gooch as its new captain?
Speculation now focuses on where Koepka will next tee off: the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible to play presumably after a penalty payment? Or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension after his last LIV appearance, although the previously lifetime bans imposed by former commissioner Jay Monahan have been significantly softened? Why be vindictive when every returning LIV player, especially a high-profile one, benefits the Tour that holds the upper hand? This key question seems partly answered. According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not extended after 2022, to be reinstated as a member of the player cohort.
Any suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship from August 27-30. Koepka would be eligible to compete in 2027 when the PGA Tour introduces its compressed schedule of nearly two dozen $20 million events with limited elite fields — an ideal comeback moment. PGA Tour Enterprises investors would welcome another marquee 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 at least play the minimum, and why not the tournaments he likes, the big ones? If he then qualifies or gets invited to high-profile events, he would play those too.\” Perhaps the PGA Tour will be lenient with a five-time major champion; suspension-related decisions involve the board, player directors, and the competition committee led by Tiger Woods, who supports Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to reinstate Koepka immediately.
Update: It happened just that way. On Monday evening local time, news spread rapidly that Koepka is immediately eligible to play on the PGA Tour again and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in late January. His participation at the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, Arizona, is already confirmed.
This