First start at the Farmers, Vijay Singh returns, Charley Hull launches YouTube channel. The Back Nine.
Expected: Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will remain connected to the competing circuit but needs more family time, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. However, Koepka is known as a competitor who thrives on high-level contests, something he found limited at LIV. He joined LIV in 2022 primarily due to injury concerns near his career end and financial motives for retirement. The choice to skip his final contract year is therefore unsurprising, though questions remain about buyouts or salary repayments. It is also unclear if the 35-year-old retains ownership of his LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation grows over which tours Koepka will appear on next: the DP World Tour where he might have immediate eligibility, possibly with a penalty, or the PGA Tour where he faces a one-year suspension since last playing LIV, after former commissioner Jay Monahan softened lifetime bans. Returning to the PGA Tour benefits both Koepka and the Tour, which has the upper hand. According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership and rejoin the player ranks.
An eventual suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the 2026 Tour Championship ending August 27-30. For 2027, Koepka could compete in the PGA Tour’s revamped schedule of roughly two dozen $20-million events with limited, top-tier fields—a perfect comeback timing matching Koepka’s preferences and appealing to PGA Tour Enterprises investors.
\”He might need some time but I think he’ll return to the PGA Tour,\” said Jon Rahm on the podcast \”Subpar.\” \”He’ll probably at least play the minimum, choosing his favorite big tournaments. If he qualifies for or is invited to top-tier events, he’d play those too.\” It remains possible that the PGA Tour will ease his suspension, with input from the board, player directors, and Tiger Woods-led competition committee, heeding Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to reinstate Koepka immediately.
Update: This came true. Monday evening local time, news spread rapidly that Koepka is immediately eligible to play on the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open end of January in Torrey Pines. His participation at the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona is already confirmed.
This became possible through the \”Returning Member Program\” established last Thursday, allowing select LIV players to regain PGA Tour membership without suspension. Koepka’s sporting merits were considered, especially his 2023 PGA Championship as his fifth major.
The PGA Tour statement clarifies the special rule applies to major and Players winners from the past three years, ending February 2. \”This is a one-time, clearly defined opportunity and not a precedent for future cases,\” said PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp. \”Once this door closes, no guarantee exists it will reopen.\” This surely concerns Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambe