First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh back on PGA Tour, Charley Hull launching YouTube channel soon. The Back Nine. Brooks Koepka has officially opted out of the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the competing circuit but needs more family time. This amicable agreement was confirmed by LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is known as a competitor who thrives on high-level contests, which he found limited at LIV. He joined LIV in 2022 primarily due to injury concerns and to secure his retirement finances. Choosing not to play the last contracted season raises questions about buyouts or repayments. It’s unclear if he remains an owner of his LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch. Speculation surrounds which tour Koepka will next compete on: DP World Tour, where he could play immediately perhaps with a penalty, or the PGA Tour where he faces a one-year suspension post-LIV participation, recently softened from lifetime bans. According to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not extended after 2022. An eventual suspension would end in August 2026, coinciding with the conclusion of that year’s Tour Championship. Koepka would be eligible for 2027 if PGA Tour’s new schedule of about two dozen $20-million tournaments with limited fields begins then — ideal timing for his return. Investors in PGA Tour Enterprises would welcome his prominence. Jon Rahm recently expressed belief Koepka will return, likely playing minimal events including majors. The PGA Tour’s Returning Member Program now permits certain LIV players to regain membership without suspension; Koepka qualifies especially due to his 2023 PGA Championship win. Koepka’s penalties include a $5 million charity donation and exclusion from 2026 FedEx Cup bonuses and a 5-year capital participation program. Bryson DeChambeau confirmed his 2026 LIV Golf season participation with his Crushers team intact but without a general contract extension announcement, fueling speculation behind the scenes. Vijay Singh, age 62, returns to the PGA Tour using career money list exemption, debuting at the Sony Open in Hawaii this week after success on the PGA Tour Champions. The Tomorrow’s Golf League (TGL) struggles with TV ratings in its second season without Tiger Woods, highlighting the need for new star attractions as Rory McIlroy and others attempt to fill the gap. Charley Hull plans a YouTube debut this summer, inspired by Bryson DeChambeau’s successful channel, with a series titled ‘The Sweet Spot.’ Jason Day cryptically announced quitting something, fueling rumors he may focus full-time on the YouTube channel “The Lads” he launched with Malbon colleagues. Tom Phillips will become the new CEO of the Ladies European Tour (LET) in April, bringing over 25 years of global golf industry experience. Derek Sprague resigns as PGA of America CEO after one year for family reasons, amid criticism of the association’s handling of fan incidents during the continental championship at Bethpage Black. A legendary roundtable features Bernhard Langer, Sir Nick Faldo, Ian Woosnam, and Sandy Lyle reminiscing on their careers and Severiano Ballesteros. This episode is highly recommended for golf fans.
Categories