First start at the Farmers Insurance Open, Vijay Singh is back, and Charley Hull launches YouTube channel. The Back Nine.
Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh, stating he wants to focus more on family while maintaining connections with rival circuits, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka, a five-time major winner, was known to be a competitive athlete who thrives on high-level contests, something he found limited during his LIV stint. Originally joining LIV in 2022 due to injury concerns and financial security, he did not renew his contract for the last season, raising speculation about possible buyouts and his ownership of the LIV Smash GC team, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation has focused on which tour Koepka will join next: the DP World Tour, where he could compete immediately possibly subject to penalties, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension that has since been softened from a lifetime ban. Recently, ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach revealed that Koepka formally applied to reactivate his PGA Tour membership as of the previous Friday.
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Koepka’s suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the end of the PGA 2026 season, making 2027 an ideal comeback year especially with the new PGA Tour schedule featuring nearly two dozen $20 million events with limited fields. Top players and investors would benefit from his return. Jon Rahm recently expressed confidence in Koepka’s return, suggesting he may play selectively at first, focusing on tournaments he favors and major events. Influential figures, including Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods’ competition committee, appear supportive of waiving the suspension for Koepka.
Update: Koepka is immediately reinstated by the PGA Tour and will compete at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January and the WM Phoenix Open in Arizona. This is enabled by the new \”Returning Member Program,\” which allows certain LIV players to rejoin without suspension, recognizing Koepka’s recent achievements, notably his 2023 PGA Championship win.
The PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp clarified that this opportunity is a one-time, strictly defined case, closing after February 2, with no guarantee of recurrence. Koepka must pay $5 million to PGA Tour charity, forgo FedEx Cup bonuses in 2026, and is excluded from the PGA Tour’s capital programs for five years.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Golf 2026 Participation
Bryson DeChambeau officially confirms he will compete in the 2026 LIV Golf season. His Crushers team including Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri remains unchanged. Though no general contract renewal was announced, speculations arise about negotiations following Koepka’s departure.