First start at the Farmers; Vijay Singh returns and Charley Hull launches a YouTube channel. The Back Nine updates.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the LIV Golf League for the 2026 season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will stay connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time. This was reportedly a friendly agreement, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka, a competitive player who thrives on top-level competition, was less motivated at LIV and originally joined in 2022 due to injury concerns and the opportunity to secure retirement earnings. It is not surprising that he skipped the final contract season, though questions remain about financial details and his ownership of the LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation rises about which fairways Koepka will soon play on—immediately eligible for the DP World Tour, possibly with a penalty, or returning to the PGA Tour where he faces a one-year suspension for his last LIV season after previously harsher lifetime bans were softened. This critical question now has some clarity: ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reports Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership and rejoin the players’ circle.
Update: News quickly spread Monday evening 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. Also confirmed is his participation in the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona.
This is enabled by a new Thursday-introduced regulation called the \”Returning Member Program,\” allowing selected LIV players to rejoin the PGA Tour without suspension. Koepka’s sporting merits, especially the 2023 PGA Championship win as his fifth major, were considered.
The PGA Tour states this special rule applies to major winners and Players Championship winners from the past three years and expires on February 2. Brian Rolapp, PGA Tour CEO, says this is a unique, clearly defined opportunity and not a precedent. Once it closes, there is no guarantee such a path will reopen. This likely causes reflection for Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith, while creating unease within LIV Golf League.
Koepka’s penalty for joining LIV is moderate: he must donate $5 million to the PGA Tour charity fund, is excluded from the 2026 FedEx Cup bonus system, and barred from the PGA Tour Enterprises’ capital participation program for five years.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Start for 2026
Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed his participation in the LIV Golf League for 2026. His Crushers team with Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri will enter the fifth season unchanged. Interestingly, BDC did not announce a general contract extension, sparking speculation about behind-the-scenes agreements aiming to retain LIV’s most prominent and marketable player after Koepka’s departure.
Vijay Singh Returns to PGA Tour at 62
In a surprising move, three-time major winner Vijay Singh is returning to the PGA