First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh returns at 62, Charley Hull soon launching YouTube channel. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has opted out of the 2026 LIV Golf season starting on February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion will remain connected to the competing circuit but needs more family time, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is known as a competitor who thrives on top-level competition, which he found limited at LIV. He switched in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns and to secure retirement money. Questions remain if he had to buy out or repay part of his guaranteed purse and whether he remains owner of LIV’s Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation arises about which tour Koepka will play on next – the DP World Tour where he is immediately eligible, possibly with a penalty, or the PGA Tour where he faces a one-year suspension after his last LIV event, though lifetime bans were softened. ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reported Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership after not renewing post-2022.
Any suspension would end in August, coinciding with the Tour Championship finale. Koepka would then be eligible for 2027 under the PGA Tour’s redesigned schedule featuring around two dozen $20-million tournaments with top-limited fields – an ideal re-entry point. This is welcomed by PGA Tour Enterprises investors aiming for a premier league.
Jon Rahm recently expressed optimism on the ‘Subpar’ podcast, expecting Koepka to return and selectively play major tournaments. The PGA competition committee, led by Tiger Woods, reportedly supports this, aligning with Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to reinstate Koepka immediately.
Update: It has happened: On Monday evening, news spread that Koepka is immediately eligible for the PGA Tour and will start at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines. His participation in the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale is also confirmed.
This is enabled by the recently created ‘Returning Member Program’ allowing select LIV players to rejoin the PGA Tour without suspension, with Koepka’s 2023 PGA Championship win as a key factor.
The PGA Tour statement clarifies this exemption applies to major and Players champions in the last three years, ending February 2, and is a unique opportunity without precedent. This situation likely unsettles Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Cam Smith, and LIV Golf.
Koepka’s penalty includes donating $5 million to PGA Tour charity, exclusion from 2026 FedEx Cup bonuses, and a five-year ban from PGA Tour Enterprises investment programs.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Start for 2026
Bryson DeChambeau officially confirms participation in the 2026 LIV Golf season with his Crushers team of Howell III, Casey, and Lahiri continuing unchanged. However, no general contract extension was announced, raising speculation about behind-the-scenes arrangements following Koepka’s departure.
Vijay Singh Returns at 62