First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh is back on the PGA Tour, and Charley Hull is soon launching her own YouTube channel. The Back Nine.
Brooks Koepka, the five-time major winner, has officially withdrawn from the LIV Golf League for the 2026 season starting February 7 in Riyadh, citing a desire to spend more time with family. LIV CEO Scott McNeil confirmed this amicable agreement. Speculation surrounds Koepka’s future playing grounds: whether he will join the DP World Tour immediately, likely with a penalty, or the PGA Tour where he faces a one-year suspension post his last LIV appearance. According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which had not been renewed after 2022.
A potential suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the 2026 season end at the Tour Championship. Koepka would be eligible to compete in 2027 under the PGA Tour’s compressed schedule featuring nearly two dozen $20 million tournaments and limited fields — an ideal time for his return. Jon Rahm recently expressed confidence in Koepka’s return to the PGA Tour, noting that Koepka would likely play selectively, focusing on major events. The PGA Tour’s “Returning Member Program,” introduced recently, allows certain LIV players reinstatement without suspension, a provision Koepka qualifies for due to his recent PGA Championship win.
Update: As anticipated, it was announced Monday evening that Koepka is immediately eligible to play on the PGA Tour, participating in the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines at the end of January and the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale. To rejoin, Koepka will donate five million dollars to the PGA Tour charity fund and be excluded from the 2026 FedEx Cup bonus system and PGA Tour Enterprises’ capital participation program for five years.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Golf Return in 2026
Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed his participation in the LIV Golf League for 2026. His Crushers team, including Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri, will continue into their fifth season. However, no long-term contract extension has been announced, leaving room for speculation about behind-the-scenes negotiations following Koepka’s departure.
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, taking advantage of an exemption due to his career earnings ranking. Singh, previously playing on the PGA Tour Champions with five titles including the Senior Players Championship, will start this week at the Sony Open in Hawaii.
TGL Struggles in Second Season Without Tiger Woods
The Tomorrow’s Golf League (TGL) has seen a weak start in its second season, with viewership dropping notably without Tiger Woods. The opening day on ABC garnered 646,000 viewers, down from 919,000 during the premiere season on ESPN. The second match attracted only 354,000 viewers. The league’s founders including Woods