First start at the Farmers, Vijay Singh ready to compete again, Charley Hull to launch YouTube channel. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains connected to the competing circuit but needs more family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 confirmed a friendly agreement. Koepka is known as a competitive type who thrives on top-level competition, which he only partially found at LIV. He switched in 2022 mainly because of injury concerns and to secure a solid retirement fund. His decision to forego the last contractual playing season raises questions: Did he have to buy out his contract or repay part of his guaranteed earnings? Is he still the owner of his LIV team Smash GC, which named Talor Gooch as new captain?
Speculation is rife on which tour Koepka will next appear. The DP World Tour allows immediate play, possibly against a penalty? Or back to the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension following the last LIV event, though lifetime bans imposed by former Commissioner Jay Monahan have been softened. The key question now seems partially answered: according to ESPN reporter Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not extended after 2022.
An eventual suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship from August 27 to 30. Koepka would be eligible for 2027, with the PGA Tour’s new schedule featuring nearly two dozen $20 million events with limited top fields, an ideal moment for a comeback. PGA Tour Enterprises investors would welcome another big name.
\”He may need some time, but I think he’ll return to the PGA Tour,\” said Jon Rahm recently in the \”Subpar\” podcast. \”He will likely play at least the minimum and why not the tournaments he likes, the big ones? If he qualifies for or gets into top events, he’ll play those too.\” There is speculation the PGA Tour, including Tiger Woods-led competition committee and player directors, might overlook Koepka’s suspension, following Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to reinstate him. A majority of fans seem to agree, as per the non-representative \”Bunkered\” poll.
Update: \”And maybe they’ll overlook the suspension for a five-time major winner in Ponte Vedra Beach\” – just so it happened. The news spread swiftly that Koepka is immediately eligible to play on the PGA Tour, starting at the Farmers Insurance Open in Torrey Pines at the end of January, with participation confirmed for the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, Arizona.
This was made possible by a surprisingly introduced \”Returning Member Program,\” allowing select LIV players to resume PGA Tour membership without suspension.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Return for 2026
Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed he will compete in the 2026 LIV Golf League. His Crushers team, including Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri, will enter their fifth season unchanged. Interestingly, De