First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager to compete again, Charley Hull launching on YouTube soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, 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 rival circuit but needs more family time. LIV CEO Scott McNeil confirmed this was a mutual agreement. Koepka is known as a competitor who thrives in high-level contests, which he felt was limited in LIV. He moved to LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns and to secure a solid retirement fund. Questions remain if he had to buy out or return part of his guaranteed salary. He also retains ownership of his LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation abounds on which fairways Koepka will play next: DP World Tour, where he could be immediately eligible, possibly paying a penalty? Or PGA Tour, where he would have to serve a one-year ban following his last LIV appearance, after previous lifetime bans were significantly reduced? Why be vindictive when every LIV returnee, especially a big name, benefits the longer-empowered PGA Tour? ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported that last Friday Koepka formally applied to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which lapsed after 2022.
Update: The rumor was right: Koepka is now immediately eligible for the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines. He is also confirmed for the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, Arizona. This was made possible by a new “Returning Member Program” that allows select LIV players to rejoin the PGA Tour without suspension.
DeChambeau confirms LIV start for 2026
Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed he will compete in LIV Golf’s 2026 season. His Crushers team, featuring Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri, continues unchanged into the fifth season. Interestingly, no general contract extension for DeChambeau was announced. Speculation about behind-the-scenes agreements to retain LIV’s most marketable star after Koepka remains.
Vijay Singh, 62, returns to PGA Tour
Surprise move: Vijay Singh returns to the PGA Tour at age 62. The three-time major winner from Fiji leverages his career money list exemption and starts this week at the Sony Open in Hawaii. Singh previously played on the PGA Tour Champions, winning five titles including the Senior Players Championship.
TGL struggles with TV ratings in season two
The Tomorrow’s Golf League (TGL) is struggling with TV ratings without Tiger Woods. Season two’s opening day on ABC drew only 646,000 viewers compared to 919,000 on ESPN in season one. The second match between Atlanta and The Bay attracted just 354,000 viewers. Woods, Rory McIlroy, and partner Mike McCarley need a new ‘eye catcher’ as the league struggles to maintain momentum and cannot replicate Tiger’s draw. McIlroy and Tom Kim have