First start at the Farmers, Vijay Singh returns, Charley Hull launching on YouTube. 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains connected to the competing circuit but needs more family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. This was reportedly agreed upon amicably, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is known as a competitive type who thrives and heats up during top-level contests, something he experienced only to a limited extent at LIV. He had mainly switched to the Saudi-backed tour in 2022 due to injuries threatening his career end and aimed to secure a solid retirement fund. Thus, his skipping the final contract year is not surprising, though questions remain about possible buyouts or paybacks. Koepka, 35, still owns the LIV team Smash GC, which recently appointed Talor Gooch as its new captain.
Speculation is rife about which fairways Koepka will next grace. Will it be the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible to play, possibly facing a penalty fee? Or the PGA Tour, where he would have to serve a one-year suspension since his last LIV participation, after previous lifetime bans by former Commissioner Jay Monahan were significantly reduced? Why be vindictive when every LIV returnee, especially a prominent one, plays into the hands of the better-leveraged tour? This key question may now have a partial answer. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported that last Friday Koepka formally applied to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022, and to rejoin the players’ ranks.
Update: This has now happened. Monday evening local time saw the news spread rapidly that Koepka is immediately eligible again for the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open late January at Torrey Pines. His participation at the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, Arizona, is also confirmed.
This is enabled by a new rule called the \”Returning Member Program,\” created the prior Thursday, which allows selected LIV players to regain PGA Tour membership without suspension. Koepka’s athletic merits, especially his 2023 PGA Championship victory as his fifth major, were decisive.
The PGA Tour states this special provision applies to major winners and Players Championship victors from the past three years, with a deadline of February 2. \”This is a one-time, clearly defined opportunity and does not set precedent for future cases,\” said PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp. This might give Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith food for thought, and cause unease in the LIV Golf League.
Koepka’s penalty for crossing over to LIV is relatively mild: a $5 million donation to the PGA Tour charity pool, exclusion from the 2026 FedEx Cup bonus system and a five-year suspension from PGA Tour Enterprises equity participation.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Return for 2026
Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau has officially confirmed his participation in the LIV Golf League in 2026. His Crushers team, featuring Charles Howell