First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh making a comeback, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially opted out of the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains connected to the competing circuit but needs more family time, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s friendly statement. Koepka, known as a competitor who thrives in top-level competition, was less motivated at LIV and had joined mainly due to injury concerns and to secure retirement funds. Questions remain about financial arrangements and his ownership of LIV’s Smash GC team captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation is rife about which fairways Koepka will play next—DP World Tour where he’d be immediately eligible, possibly with a penalty, or PGA Tour where he faces a one-year suspension from his last LIV start, though lifetime bans were reduced. ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reports Koepka formally applied to reactivate his PGA Tour membership after 2022 and be reinstated as a player.
Update: Koepka is now immediately eligible for the PGA Tour and will compete at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January in Torrey Pines. He is also confirmed for the WM Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Arizona. This is made possible by the newly created \”Returning Member Program,\” allowing selected LIV players to rejoin the PGA Tour without suspension, considering Koepka’s recent major wins, especially the 2023 PGA Championship. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp described this as a unique opportunity, not setting precedent.
Koepka must pay five million USD to the PGA Tour Charity, is excluded from the 2026 FedEx Cup bonus system and the five-year capital participation program linked to the PGA Tour Enterprises investors.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Start for 2026
Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed his return to LIV Golf for 2026, leading the Crushers alongside Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri in their fifth season. However, no overall contract extension was announced, raising speculation about future arrangements to retain LIV’s marquee player after Koepka.
Vijay Singh Returns to PGA Tour at 62
Surprise move as 62-year-old three-time major winner Vijay Singh returns to PGA Tour, using exemption due to career money list ranking, starting at the Sony Open in Hawaii. Singh has five PGA Tour Champions titles, including the Senior Players Championship.
TGL Faces Declining TV Ratings in Season Two
Without Tiger Woods, the Tomorrow’s Golf League struggles with ratings. ABC’s season two opener attracted 646,000 viewers, down from 919,000 on ESPN in the inaugural season. The second match drew only 354,000 viewers. The TGL founders – Woods, Rory McIlroy, and Mike McCarley – face challenges finding a new standout star, as McIlroy and Tom Kim struggle to replicate Woods’ impact.
Charley Hull Launches YouTube Channel
Following Bryson DeChambeau’s success