First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh keen for more, Charley Hull to launch YouTube channel soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion stays connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for family. This was amicably agreed, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is a competitor who thrives in top-level competition, something LIV provided only limitedly. He had switched to LIV in 2022 partly due to injuries threatening his career and to secure a retirement fund. Skipping the final contract year is unsurprising, though questions remain about buyout or guarantee repayments. He remains owner of LIV team Smash GC, with Talor Gooch now captain.
Speculation heats up on which tours Koepka will play next—DP World Tour where he could join immediately, possibly paying a penalty, or PGA Tour, which imposed a one-year suspension after his last LIV event, later softened from life bans. According to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership that lapsed after 2022.
Update: As of Monday evening, Koepka is again eligible to play on the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines, with confirmed participation at the WM Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Arizona. This is enabled by the newly created \”Returning Member Program\” allowing select LIV players to reinstate PGA membership without suspension. Koepka’s recent sporting merits, especially his 2023 PGA Championship win, were considered. The program applies to major and Players champions from the past three years and expires February 2. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp called it a one-time clearly defined chance, not precedent. This also impacts players like Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith, causing unease in LIV Golf League.
Koepka’s penalty is moderate: a $5 million donation to PGA Tour charity, exclusion from 2026 FedEx Cup bonuses, and five-year exclusion from the PGA Tour Enterprises equity program.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Return for 2026
Bryson DeChambeau has officially confirmed he will compete in LIV Golf League 2026 with his Crushers team including Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri, continuing into the fifth season. However, no contract extension has been announced, raising speculation behind the scenes.
Vijay Singh Returns to PGA Tour at 62
In a surprising move, three-time major winner Vijay Singh returns to the PGA Tour at age 62, using an exemption based on career money list standing, starting at this week’s Sony Open in Hawaii. Singh has five PGA Tour Champions titles including the Senior Players Championship.
TGL TV Ratings Drop Without Tiger Woods
The second season of the Tomorrow’s Golf League (TGL) started weak on ABC with only 646,000 viewers, down from 919,000 on ESPN in the first season premiere, and further