First start at the Farmers Insurance Open, Vijay Singh returns at 62, and Charley Hull launches YouTube channel. The Back Nine.
Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh. The five-time major champion remains connected to LIV but wants more time for family, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka, known for his competitive spirit, has been less motivated in LIV events and initially joined LIV in 2022 due to injury concerns and to secure a retirement fund. Questions remain about contract details and his ownership status of LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation grows about which tours Koepka will compete on next. He is immediately eligible for the DP World Tour, potentially with a penalty, or the PGA Tour where he faces a one-year suspension from his last LIV appearance, after lifetime bans were softened by former Commissioner Jay Monahan. According to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership.
Update: Koepka has been reinstated to the PGA Tour effective immediately and will play at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January and the WM Phoenix Open in Arizona. This was enabled by the newly created \”Returning Member Program\” permitting selected LIV players to return to the PGA Tour without suspension, taking into account Koepka’s achievements, including his 2023 PGA Championship win. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp stated this is a one-time opportunity, ending February 2, and does not set a precedent. Koepka must donate $5 million to PGA Tour charity and is excluded from FedEx Cup bonuses and revenue-sharing programs.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Golf 2026 Participation
Bryson DeChambeau officially announced his participation in the 2026 LIV Golf season, continuing with his Crushers team including Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri. No contract extension was disclosed, sparking speculation about behind-the-scenes agreements post-Koepka.
Vijay Singh Returns to PGA Tour at 62
Surprise comeback as three-time major winner Vijay Singh will compete on the PGA Tour at 62, using his career earnings exemption. Singh, a five-time winner on the PGA Tour Champions, including the Senior Players Championship, debuts at the Sony Open in Hawaii this week.
TGL TV Ratings Drop in Second Season
The Tomorrow’s Golf League struggles without Tiger Woods’ presence; second season opener on ABC drew just 646,000 viewers compared to 919,000 on ESPN in season one. The second match between Atlanta and The Bay attracted only 354,000 viewers. TGL founders Woods, Rory McIlroy, and Mike McCarley seek new star attractions to maintain momentum.
Charley Hull Launches YouTube Channel
Following Bryson DeChambeau’s successful YouTube venture with 3 million subscribers, English star Charley Hull announced her own channel named \”The Sweet Spot,\” set to launch this summer. Hull revealed this during a YouTube appearance alongside Jason