First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh returns, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh. The five-time major champion will remain linked to the rival circuit but needs more family time, a statement from LIV CEO Scott McNeil says. Koepka is known as a competitor who thrives in the heat of top-level competition, something LIV struggled to provide. After joining LIV in 2022 amid injury concerns toward the end of his career, Koepka’s exit from the final contracted season raises questions about any buyout or repayment of guaranteed money. He also remains owner of LIV team Smash GC, with Talor Gooch as captain.
Speculation is rife about where Koepka will play next — immediately eligible for the DP World Tour, possibly with a penalty, or on the PGA Tour where he faces a one-year suspension after his last LIV event, since lifetime bans have been softened. According to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership and rejoin the playing field.
The suspension would likely end in August, coinciding with the close of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship August 27-30. This timing aligns perfectly with Koepka’s chances to play in the newly condensed PGA Tour schedule focused on around two dozen $20 million events with limited fields. Jon Rahm recently suggested Koepka will return, likely playing the minimum and focusing on major events. The PGA Tour’s competition committee, led by Tiger Woods, and player directors hold influence over suspension decisions, with Rory McIlroy advocating for Koepka’s prompt return.
Update: Koepka has now officially regained eligibility to compete on the PGA Tour effective immediately, confirmed by news spreading Monday evening. He is set to play the Farmers Insurance Open late January at Torrey Pines and has confirmed entry for the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, Arizona. This was facilitated by the newly established \”Returning Member Program\” allowing select LIV players to regain membership without suspension. Koepka’s recent 2023 PGA Championship victory played a key role. The PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp stated this is a unique opportunity expiring February 2 and not a precedent. Koepka must pay $5 million to the PGA Tour’s charity fund and is excluded from the 2026 FedEx Cup bonus system and the five-year equity program with PGA Tour Enterprises investors.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Golf Start for 2026
Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed participation in the LIV Golf League for 2026, with his Crushers team intact. No general contract extension was announced, leaving room for behind-the-scenes speculation about retaining LIV’s most marketable player after Koepka’s departure.
Vijay Singh’s PGA Tour Comeback at 62
In a surprising move,