First start at the Farmers, Vijay Singh returns at 62, Charley Hull to launch YouTube channel soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has opted out of the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains connected to the competing circuit but needs more family time. LIV CEO Scott McNeil officially stated this was a friendly agreement. Koepka is known as a competitor who gets fired up in top-level competition, which was somewhat limited during his time with LIV. He joined LIV in 2022 after injury concerns threatened his career, seeking a solid retirement fund. Thus, skipping the last contracted season is not surprising, though questions remain about contract buyouts and his ownership stake in LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculations abound about which fairways Koepka will appear on next. The DP World Tour offers immediate eligibility, possibly with a penalty, while the PGA Tour has a one-year suspension since his last LIV start, following the rollback of lifetime bans. However, the PGA Tour seems open to welcoming LIV returnees, especially prominent ones like Koepka. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which wasn’t renewed after 2022.
An eventual suspension would end in August, coinciding with the 2026 season finale at the Tour Championship from August 27 to 30. This timing positions Koepka well for 2027 eligibility under the PGA Tour’s new schedule with about two dozen $20 million tournaments and limited elite fields—perfect for a high-profile return. PGA Tour Enterprises investors would also benefit from adding a star like Koepka.
“He might need some time, but I think he’ll return to the PGA Tour,” said Jon Rahm recently on the podcast Subpar. “He’ll probably play at least the minimum and the tournaments he likes, the big ones. If he qualifies for top-level events, he’ll play those too.” It’s possible officials in Ponte Vedra Beach may waive parts of his suspension, with player directors and the Tiger Woods-led competition committee involved, following Rory McIlroy’s recommendation for Koepka’s immediate return. Fan sentiment backs this view, according to a non-representative survey by Bunkered magazine.
Update: “And maybe they’ll cut some slack for a five-time major winner in Ponte Vedra Beach”—as it turns out, that happened. News quickly spread that Koepka is immediately eligible to compete on the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in late January. He’s also confirmed for the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, Arizona. This was made possible by a newly introduced “Returning Member Program” allowing select LIV players to reinstate PGA Tour membership without suspension.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Start for 2026
Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed he will compete in the 2026 LIV Golf League season. His Crushers team alongside Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri will continue unchanged into the fifth season. Interestingly