First start at the Farmers, Vijay Singh returns at 62, Charley Hull to launch YouTube channel. The Back Nine.
As expected, five-time major winner Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh. LIV CEO Scott McNeil stated they amicably agreed that Koepka would remain connected to the competing circuit but needed more family time. Koepka, known for his competitive drive, has been less motivated by LIV events since joining in 2022 mainly as he feared his career was ending due to injuries and sought to secure a retirement fund. Questions remain whether he had to buy out of his contract or repay some guaranteed money. It’s also unclear if he remains owner of LIV’s Smash GC team, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation continues on which tours Koepka will appear. He is immediately eligible for the DP World Tour, probably subject to penalty payment, or for the PGA Tour where he still faces a one-year suspension after his last LIV event, though lifetime bans by former commissioner Jay Monahan have been largely softened. Returning to the PGA Tour aligns with the advantage of the dominant tour welcoming back prominent LIV players. ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reported Koepka formally applied last Friday to reinstate his PGA Tour membership after it was not renewed post-2022.
A suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season and the Tour Championship. Koepka would be eligible for 2027’s new PGA Tour schedule featuring around two dozen $20 million events with limited top fields — perfect timing for his comeback, also appealing to PGA Tour Enterprises investors. Jon Rahm recently predicted on the \”Subpar\” podcast that Koepka will return, likely playing selectively preferred major tournaments, possibly with leniency from the PGA Tour board and competition committee led by Tiger Woods, and reflecting Rory McIlroy’s favorable recommendation. Most fans also support Koepka’s return based on a non-representative survey by \”Bunkered.\”
Update: The rumor that Koepka might be granted immediate eligibility on the PGA Tour became reality as news spread that he will play at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January and the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale. This was enabled by the newly introduced \”Returning Member Program\” allowing select LIV players to rejoin the PGA Tour without suspension.
Koepka’s PGA Tour Membership Renewed Without Suspension
Koepka’s membership reinstatement with no ban marks a significant development in professional golf’s landscape, reaffirming his status among the sport’s elite and raising anticipation for his performances on the PGA Tour.
Other Headlines: DeChambeau, Singh, and TGL’s Struggles
Bryson DeChambeau confirmed he will compete in LIV Golf’s 2026 season with Crushers, though no contract extension was announced. Vijay Singh, at age 62, returns to PGA Tour utilizing career money exemption, starting at the Sony Open in Hawaii. Tomorrow’s Golf League (TGL) ratings have dropped sharply in season two without Tiger Woods, with ABC drawing only 646,000 viewers on