First start at the Farmers, Vijay Singh returns to PGA Tour, Charley Hull launching 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting on February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will remain connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for family, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. However, Koepka is a competitive type who thrives in high-level competition, which he only somewhat found at LIV. Having joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns and to secure a good retirement fund, his skipping the final contract year is not surprising, though questions remain about financial arrangements and ownership of his LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation surrounds where Koepka will next play. The DP World Tour could welcome him immediately, perhaps with a fine, while the PGA Tour imposed a one-year suspension following his last LIV event, after previously lifetime bans by former Commissioner Jay Monahan were eased. Recent reports by ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reveal Koepka formally applied to reactivate his PGA Tour membership last Friday, seeking reinstatement.
Update: It has officially happened. News spread rapidly 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 in the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona is also confirmed. This was made possible by the newly created ‘Returning Member Program,’ allowing select LIV players to rejoin the PGA Tour without suspension. Koepka’s recent competitive merits, including the 2023 PGA Championship win, were decisive. The PGA Tour stated this special rule applies only to major winners and Players champions from the last three years and ends February 2. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp called this a one-time, clearly defined opportunity with no guarantee of repetition. This may cause concern for players like Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith, as well as within LIV Golf.
Koepka’s penalty is relatively light: a $5 million donation to the PGA Tour charity fund, exclusion from the 2026 FedEx Cup bonus system, and five years’ exclusion from the PGA Tour Enterprises equity program.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Return for 2026
Bryson DeChambeau has officially confirmed he will compete in the 2026 LIV Golf season with his Crushers team, including Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri, continuing into the fifth season unchanged. However, no general contract extension has been announced, fueling speculation about negotiations behind the scenes to retain LIV’s most marketable star after Koepka’s departure.
Vijay Singh Returns to PGA Tour at 62
Surprising move: Vijay Singh returns to the PGA Tour at age 62, using an exemption linked to his career money list standing. The three-time major champion from Fiji will begin play this week at the Sony Open in Hawaii. Previously, Singh competed on the PGA Tour Champions with five titles, including