First start at the Farmers, Vijay Singh back on the PGA Tour, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has opted out of the 2026 LIV Golf League season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion will remain connected to the competing circuit but needs more time for his family, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is known as a competitive athlete who thrives on high-level competition, something he found limited in LIV Golf. Having joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns and to secure a solid retirement fund, it’s not surprising he forgone his last contractual playing year, though questions remain about financial arrangements and his ongoing ownership of LIV’s Smash GC team, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation abounds about where Koepka will compete next—whether on the DP World Tour, where he is immediately eligible (possibly with a penalty), or on the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension post-LIV participation, although previous lifetime bans imposed by former commissioner Jay Monahan have been relaxed. Importantly, ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reports that Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which had lapsed after 2022.
Update: \”Perhaps the five-time major winner will get a leniency in Ponte Vedra Beach\”—this has come to pass. News rapidly spread that Koepka is immediately eligible for PGA Tour play and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines. Participation in the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, Arizona, is also confirmed. This is enabled by the newly introduced \”Returning Member Program,\” allowing selected LIV players to resume PGA Tour membership without suspension.
Koepka’s potential ban would end in August, coinciding with the close of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship (August 27-30). The PGA Tour’s revamped schedule, featuring roughly two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited elite fields starting in 2027, would be an ideal time for his comeback. Such a high-profile return would surely appeal to PGA Tour Enterprises’ investors, raising the league’s star power.
Jon Rahm recently remarked on the podcast \”Subpar\” that Koepka will likely return to the PGA Tour, at least playing a minimum schedule, including major events he enjoys, and possibly more if qualified. With Rory McIlroy advocating for Koepka’s reinstatement, and Tiger Woods-led competition committee involved, there is a strong possibility of leniency. A non-representative fan poll by Bunkered magazine also indicated broad support for Koepka’s return.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Golf Start for 2026
Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed his participation in the 2026 LIV Golf season. His Crushers team, including Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri, will enter their fifth season unchanged. Notably, DeChambeau has not announced a general contract extension, fueling speculation about the behind-the-scenes negotiations to retain the