First start at the Farmers, Vijay Singh returns, and Charley Hull to launch YouTube channel soon. The Back Nine.
Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will remain connected to the competition circuit but needs more family time, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. However, speculation abounds about Koepka’s next move and fairways. After submitting a formal application to reactivate his PGA Tour membership last Friday, Koepka is now eligible to play for the PGA Tour again, where a one-year suspension post-LIV play had been reduced significantly.
An eventual suspension would end in August, coinciding with the season finale at the Tour Championship, allowing Koepka to fully participate in 2027 with the new PGA Tour schedule of roughly two dozen $20 million tournaments featuring limited, top-tier fields — an ideal comeback moment. Jon Rahm recently hinted Koepka would return, possibly playing selective big tournaments, while Rory McIlroy advocated lifting any suspensions for him.
Update: Koepka is immediately eligible and will compete at the Farmers Insurance Open late January, with confirmed entry for the WM Phoenix Open in Arizona. This was made possible by the PGA Tour’s newly created “Returning Member Program,” allowing select LIV players to rejoin without suspension, considering recent major wins, notably Koepka’s 2023 PGA Championship title. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp described it as a one-time opportunity expiring February 2, not setting a precedent.
Koepka must donate $5 million to PGA Tour charity, is excluded from the 2026 FedEx Cup bonus system, and barred for five years from equity programs linked to PGA Tour Enterprises investors as part of his reintegration.
DeChambeau Confirms 2026 LIV Golf Participation
Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed his participation in the 2026 LIV Golf League season. His Crushers team with Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri continues unchanged into its fifth season, though no general contract extension was announced, sparking speculation on internal agreements following Koepka’s departure.
Vijay Singh Returns to PGA Tour at 62
Surprisingly, Vijay Singh is making a PGA Tour return at 62, utilizing an exemption based on his career earnings standing. Singh, who has won five titles on the PGA Tour Champions including the Senior Players Championship, will start this week at the Sony Open in Hawaii.
TGL Struggles with TV Ratings in Second Season
The absence of Tiger Woods has notably weakened the Tomorrow’s Golf League’s television viewership. The season two opener on ABC attracted 646,000 viewers, down from 919,000 in season one on ESPN. Subsequent matches saw even lower numbers, indicating the need for fresh star power to sustain audience interest. Founders Woods, Rory McIlroy, and Mike McCarley face the challenge of finding a new “eye-catcher,” a role Woods remains unmatched in.