First start already at Farmers, Vijay Singh also wants to play again, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh. The five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but requires more family time, according to an official statement from LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka, a competitive type who thrives on high-level competition, was less motivated at LIV and initially joined in 2022 amidst injury concerns to secure a solid retirement fund. Questions linger about financial details of his exit and his ownership status of LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation is growing about where Koepka will next appear: the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible, likely with penalties, or the PGA Tour, where a one-year suspension applies after his last LIV event, though lifetime bans have been softened. Notably, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, according to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach.
His possible suspension would end in August, just as the 2026 season concludes with the Tour Championship. This timing aligns perfectly with the PGA Tour’s new 2027 schedule featuring about two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited fields. Jon Rahm recently expressed confidence Koepka will return to the PGA Tour, likely playing select major tournaments. With input from the PGA Tour board, player directors, and Tiger Woods-led competition committee, following Rory McIlroy’s support, Koepka could soon be competing again.
Update: Koepka is now immediately eligible to play on the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in late January. His participation at the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale is also confirmed. This is enabled by the recently created \”Returning Member Program\” which allows select LIV players to rejoin the PGA Tour without suspension, recognizing achievements such as Koepka’s 2023 PGA Championship. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp emphasized this opportunity applies only for majors and Players winners from the past three years and ends February 2. Koepka must donate $5 million to PGA Tour charity and forfeits FedEx Cup bonuses for 2026 and five years of equity participation in PGA Tour Enterprises.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Start for 2026
Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed his participation in LIV Golf’s 2026 season. His Crushers team remains intact with Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri. However, DeChambeau did not announce a contract extension, fueling speculation about behind-the-scenes agreements after Koepka’s departure.
Vijay Singh Returns to PGA Tour at 62
In a surprising move, three-time major winner Vijay Singh returns to the PGA Tour at age 62, using an exemption based on his career earnings rank. He will start this week at the Sony Open in Hawaii, having previously played on the PGA Tour Champions with five senior titles.