Koepka Applies for PGA Tour Membership, Prepares for 2027 Return

Bryson DeChambeau confirms LIV Golf start in 2026; Vijay Singh returns to PGA Tour at 62; Charley Hull plans YouTube debut. The Back Nine.Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but seeks more family time, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka, known as a competitive player who thrives on top-level competition, had limited motivation in LIV and initially joined in 2022 amid injury concerns to secure his retirement funds. Questions remain about whether he had to buy out his contract or repay part of the guarantee. Meanwhile, speculation arises about which tours Koepka will next compete on — the DP World Tour, where he may be eligible immediately possibly with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension after his last LIV event, with earlier lifetime bans softened. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported that Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership and return to the players’ roster. An eventual suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the 2026 PGA Tour season’s end at the Tour Championship. Koepka would thus be eligible for the 2027 season featuring a condensed schedule of nearly two dozen $20-million tournaments with elite limited fields, an ideal comeback moment. PGA Tour Enterprises investors would welcome such a high-profile name. Jon Rahm recently expressed optimism on the podcast “Subpar” that Koepka will return to the PGA Tour, likely playing a minimum schedule focusing on favorite and major events, with the possibility of waiving suspensions influenced by the player board and Tiger Woods-led competition committee, echoing Rory McIlroy’s support and fan sentiment from a Bunkered magazine survey. Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed his LIV League return in 2026, with teammates Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri continuing for a fifth season, though no general contract extension was announced. Vijay Singh, at age 62, surprises by returning to the PGA Tour making use of his career money list exemption, debuting at the Sony Open in Hawaii after five titles on the PGA Tour Champions. Tomorrow’s Golf League (TGL) faces weak TV ratings in season two without Tiger Woods’s presence; ABC’s opening day drew 646,000 viewers, down from 919,000 on ESPN last year, with the second match drawing just 354,000. Woods, Rory McIlroy, and Mike McCarley need a new standout star as McIlroy and Tom Kim have not filled that void. Charley Hull announced plans for her own YouTube channel launching this summer, inspired by Bryson DeChambeau’s successful online presence with over three million subscribers. Hull revealed this on “The Lads” YouTube channel alongside Jason Day before a Florida event, naming her show “The Sweet Spot.” Jason Day itself caused speculation with a cryptic Instagram post stating \”I’ve quit,\” hinting a full-time focus on “The Lads” channel rather than quitting the PGA Tour. In leadership news, Tom Phillips is appointed new LET CEO starting April 6, bringing over 25 years’ experience and a history working with Sir Nick Faldo and the Hong Kong Golf Association