First start at the Farmers, Vijay Singh returns, and Charley Hull launches a YouTube channel. The Back Nine.
Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion intends to stay connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. However, Koepka, known as a competitive player who thrives on top-level competition, showed only limited enthusiasm for LIV. His 2022 LIV move was largely driven by injury concerns and financial security for retirement. Questions remain about whether he had to buy out of his contract or repay guarantees, and whether he remains owner of LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation continues about where Koepka will play next: the DP World Tour, where he would immediately be eligible possibly after a penalty fee, or the PGA Tour, where a one-year suspension applies following his last LIV appearance, after previous lifetime bans were softened. Recently, ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reported Koepka formally applied to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which had lapsed after 2022.
Possible suspension would end in August 2026, coinciding with the season finale at the Tour Championship. Koepka would then be eligible for the 2027 season, aligning with the PGA Tour’s new schedule featuring nearly two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited, top-tier fields, ideal for his return. This would also please PGA Tour Enterprises investors backing the new top league.
Jon Rahm recently suggested Koepka will return to the PGA Tour, likely playing selected major events. The PGA Tour’s board, player directors, and Tiger Woods-led competition committee may waive suspensions, following Rory McIlroy’s support for Koepka’s immediate return.
Update: Koepka is now reinstated on the PGA Tour and will compete at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines and the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, Arizona. This became possible through the newly created Returning Member Program, allowing select LIV players to regain membership without suspension, considering Koepka’s sporting merits, notably his 2023 PGA Championship victory.
The PGA Tour states the special rule applies to major champions and Players winners from the past three years until February 2 and is a one-time opportunity. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp emphasized no guarantee this path will reopen, a point likely concerning to Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith and unsettling for LIV Golf.
Koepka’s penalty includes a $5 million charity donation to the PGA Tour, exclusion from the 2026 FedEx Cup bonus system, and a 5-year ban from the PGA Tour’s equity program.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Golf Participation for 2026
Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed he will compete in the LIV Golf League in 2026, with his Crushers team including Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri continuing unchanged into the fifth season. However, no general contract extension was announced, fueling speculation about behind-the-scenes