First start at Farmers, Vijay Singh returns, Charley Hull on YouTube soon. The Back Nine brings you the latest golf updates.
Expectedly, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh. The five-time major winner will stay connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his family, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka, whose drive thrives on high-level competition, had limited motivation at LIV. He joined LIV in 2022 mainly to secure his retirement fund due to injury doubts. Questions remain about his departure from LIV’s last contracted season, including financial terms and his ownership status of LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation swirls around Koepka’s future playing venues: DP World Tour with immediate eligibility, possibly with a penalty, or PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension after his last LIV participation. However, recently Koepka formally applied to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, aiming to rejoin the player ranks, per ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach.
His suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season. With the PGA Tour’s new schedule featuring nearly two dozen $20 million tournaments and limited fields, 2027 offers an ideal comeback chance. Jon Rahm recently suggested Koepka will return, probably playing select big events. The PGA Tour’s board, player directors, and Tiger Woods-led competition committee could allow a waiver, aligning with Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to reinstate Koepka promptly.
Update: Koepka’s immediate eligibility for the PGA Tour was announced Monday evening, with confirmed participation at the Farmers Insurance Open and the WM Phoenix Open. This was made possible by the newly introduced \”Returning Member Program,\” exempting select LIV players from suspension. Koepka’s recent PGA Championship win in 2023 played a key role in his acceptance.
PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp stated this is a unique, defined opportunity with no guarantee of recurrence, signaling considerations for Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith while raising concerns in the LIV Golf League.
Koepka’s penalty terms are mild: a $5 million charity donation, exclusion from the 2026 FedEx Cup bonus system, and a five-year ban from PGA Tour Enterprises’ equity program.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Participation in 2026
Bryson DeChambeau has officially confirmed his participation in the 2026 LIV Golf season with his Crushers team, including Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri. However, no general contract extension has been announced, fueling speculation about behind-the-scenes negotiations to retain marquee LIV talent post-Koepka.
Vijay Singh Returns to PGA Tour at 62
In a surprising move, three-time major champion Vijay Singh is returning to the PGA Tour at age 62, using his career money list exemption to compete starting at this week’s Sony Open in Hawaii. Singh has played mainly on the PGA Tour Champions,