First start at the Farmers, Vijay Singh returns to compete, Charley Hull launching 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As expected: Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time. This was reportedly a friendly agreement, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level challenges and motivation, which he only partially found in LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns, thinking his career was nearing its end and to secure a favorable retirement fund. Thus, his waiver of the last contractual season is not surprising, though questions remain over buyouts or salary repayments. At 35, he still owns his LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation continues about which fairways Koepka will appear on next. The DP World Tour would grant immediate eligibility, possibly with penalties, or the PGA Tour, where he must serve a one-year suspension after his last LIV event, following reductions of prior lifetime bans set by former commissioner Jay Monahan. Why be vindictive when a returning LIV player, especially a prominent one, benefits the longer-established PGA Tour? This key question appears partially answered. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reports Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which lapsed after 2022, seeking readmission to the player ranks.
Update: The news spread quickly Monday evening local time that Koepka is immediately eligible to play on the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines. His participation at the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale is also confirmed.
The \”Returning Member Program,\” established last Thursday, enables select LIV players to regain PGA Tour membership without suspension, factoring Koepka’s recent 2023 PGA Championship win as his fifth major. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp declared the special rule applies to major champions and Players winners from the past three years, ending February 2, emphasizing this is a one-time opportunity and not precedent-setting. This likely impacts players like Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith and introduces unease within LIV Golf.
Koepka’s penalty for jumping to LIV is light: a $5 million donation to PGA Tour charity, exclusion from FedEx Cup bonuses in 2026, and a five-year ban from the PGA Tour Enterprises capital-sharing program.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Return for 2026
Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed he will compete in the 2026 LIV Golf season. His Crushers team, including Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri, continues unchanged into its fifth season. DeChambeau, however, has not announced a general contract extension, fueling speculation about behind-the-scenes agreements to retain LIV’s most marketable player following Koepka’s exit.
Vijay Singh Back on PGA Tour at 62
In a surprising move, 62-year-old Vijay Singh returns to the PGA