First start already at the Farmers; Vijay Singh returns; Charley Hull to launch YouTube channel. The Back Nine.
Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season beginning February 7 in Riyadh, opting to remain connected to the rival circuit but needing more family time. LIV CEO Scott McNeil confirmed this mutual agreement. Koepka, a five-time major champion, has been known to thrive on top-level competition, which he found limited in LIV. He joined LIV in 2022 amid injury concerns, aiming to secure his financial future. Questions remain whether he had to buy out his contract or refund part of his guaranteed earnings, and if he will retain ownership of LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation is rife about where Koepka will compete next. While eligible immediately for the DP World Tour, likely with a penalty, his PGA Tour return was uncertain due to a one-year suspension post-LIV participation, softened from former lifetime bans. However, ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reports Koepka recently applied to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022.
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Koepka’s suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship. He would then be eligible to play in 2027 under the new PGA Tour schedule featuring about two dozen $20 million events with limited elite fields, an ideal comeback scenario. Jon Rahm recently expressed optimism, saying Koepka may initially play minimally, focusing on preferred big events, with potential leniency from the PGA Tour board, player directors, and Tiger Woods-led competition committee following Rory McIlroy’s support.
Update: Koepka is now immediately eligible for the PGA Tour, confirmed Monday evening, set to tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open late January and already confirmed for the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale. This is enabled by the new ‘Returning Member Program’ allowing select LIV players to rejoin PGA Tour without suspension, considering Koepka’s notable achievements, including the 2023 PGA Championship.
The PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp stated this is a one-time opportunity expiring February 2, with no guarantee of future availability, likely influencing other LIV players and causing unease in LIV Golf. Koepka must donate $5 million to PGA Tour charity and faces exclusion from the 2026 FedEx Cup bonuses and a five-year ban from PGA Tour’s equity program.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Golf League Return for 2026
Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed his 2026 LIV Golf League participation. His Crushers team with Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri continues unchanged into the fifth season, though no general contract extension was announced, fueling behind-the-scenes speculation post-Koepka.