First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh returning at 62, Charley Hull launching a YouTube channel soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting on February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time. This was a mutual agreement, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on top-level competition, something he only partially found in LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 anticipating an early end to his career due to injuries and to secure a solid retirement fund. His forfeiting of the final contractual season is therefore not surprising, though questions about buyouts or refunds remain. Koepka also remains owner of the LIV team Smash GC, which has appointed Talor Gooch as its new captain.
Speculation is rife about which fairways Koepka will next appear on: the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible, possibly with a penalty payment? Or the PGA Tour, where he would serve a one-year suspension following his last LIV event after previous lifetime bans by former commissioner Jay Monahan were softened? It makes sense for the PGA Tour to welcome returning LIV players, especially prominent ones, to strengthen their competitive field. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported that Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not extended after 2022.
Update: The news spread rapidly that Koepka is immediately eligible to play on the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines at the end of January. He is also confirmed for the WM Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Arizona.
This was made possible by the newly established \”Returning Member Program,\” allowing selected LIV players to regain PGA Tour membership without suspension. Koepka’s sports merits, especially his 2023 PGA Championship victory, were considered. According to the PGA Tour, this special rule applies to major and Players Championship winners from the past three years and expires on February 2. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp emphasized this is a one-time opportunity with no guarantee of recurrence, causing concern for LIV Golf League and players like Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith.
Koepka’s penalties for joining LIV are mild: a $5 million donation to PGA Tour charity, exclusion from the 2026 FedEx Cup bonus, and a five-year ban from the PGA Tour’s capital investment program.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Return for 2026
Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed he will compete in LIV Golf in 2026. His Crushers team, including Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri, will enter the fifth season unchanged. However, DeChambeau did not announce a general contract extension, leaving room for speculation about behind-the-scenes agreements, especially after Koepka’s departure.
Vijay Singh Back on PGA Tour at 62
In a surprising move, 62-year-old Vijay Singh returns to the PGA Tour using an