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The 2026 PGA Tour season begins this week with new questions around the potential return of former LIV Golf star Brooks Koepka.
Due to The Sentry being canceled, the Sony Open in Honolulu has become this year’s PGA Tour season-opener. Teeing off Thursday, there is a $9.1 million purse up for grabs at Waialae Country Club.
But overshadowing some of the hype of the new PGA Tour season is Koepka, who applied for reinstatement of his PGA Tour membership Friday. It’s been less than a month since Koepka announced he would not play for LIV in 2026 back on Dec. 23, despite having a year remaining on his contract.
After leaving LIV, it was expected that Koepka would formally apply for PGA Tour reinstatement. He has not held membership since 2022, when he started the year on the PGA Tour before bolting for LIV that summer and signing a five-year deal worth more than $100 million.
Flexing His Starpower?
The PGA Tour has typically placed one-year bans on players since their most recent LIV start. For Koepka, that was Aug. 24. But given Koepka’s starpower as a five-time major champion, many have wondered if he will be able to return to the PGA Tour sooner.
His accomplishments also allow him to play in the four major championships this year, no matter what tour he is or isn’t a member of.
First-year PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp will be tasked with leading the effort to explore if and when to welcome Koepka back. What decision is ultimately made will have major ramifications for other LIV players who may also be interested in eventually returning to the PGA Tour.
Bryson DeChambeau is entering the final year of his LIV contract and has not guaranteed that he will sign an extension.
LIV is still awaiting a decision from the Official World Golf Ranking board after the league’s latest application for world ranking points.
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