First start already at Farmers, Vijay Singh returns, Charley Hull announces YouTube channel. 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting on February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will stay connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time. This was amicably agreed upon, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. However, Koepka is a competitor who thrives on top-level competition, something LIV provided only to a limited extent. He joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns threatening his career, seeking a substantial retirement fund.
Speculations are rife about where Koepka will play next: the DP World Tour, where he would be eligible immediately possibly with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension after his last LIV appearance, though lifetime bans have been softened. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported that Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not extended after 2022.
A potential suspension would end in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship from August 27-30. Koepka would be eligible for 2027 under the PGA Tour’s new schedule featuring nearly two dozen $20-million tournaments with limited fields. Jon Rahm recently suggested in the \”Subpar\” podcast that Koepka will likely return to the PGA Tour, playing at least a minimum schedule and the big tournaments he enjoys. The decision also involves the Player Directors and Tiger Woods-led competition committee, who reportedly support Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to allow Koepka back immediately.
Update: It has happened. On Monday evening local time, the news spread rapidly 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 at the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona is also confirmed.
This is enabled by a newly created regulation called the \”Returning Member Program,\” which allows selected LIV players to regain PGA Tour membership without suspension. Koepka’s sporting merits, especially his 2023 PGA Championship win, were taken into account.
The PGA Tour stated this special rule applies to major winners and Players Championship winners of the past three years, ending on February 2. \”This is a one-time, clearly defined opportunity and sets no precedent for future cases,\” said PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp. This move will likely concern Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith, and cause unease within LIV Golf.
Koepka’s penalty for joining LIV is mild: he must donate $5 million to a PGA Tour charity, is excluded from the 2026 FedEx Cup bonus system, and barred for five years from the PGA Tour’s equity program associated with PGA Tour Enterprises.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Golf Return for 2026
Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed he will compete in the 2026 LIV Golf season. His Crushers team, including Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban