First start at Farmers, Vijay Singh back on PGA Tour, and Charley Hull launching on YouTube soon. The Back Nine brings you the latest updates.
Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the LIV Golf 2026 season starting February 7 in Riyadh, remaining connected to the rival circuit but needing more family time, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka, a five-time major winner, initially joined LIV in 2022 due to injury concerns and to secure his retirement funds, making his decision not to play the last contracted season unsurprising, although questions remain about financial matters and his continuing ownership of LIV’s Smash GC team led by Talor Gooch.
Speculation surrounds which tours Koepka will join next: the DP World Tour, where he might have immediate playing rights possibly subject to penalties, or the PGA Tour, where a one-year suspension post-LIV involvement was significantly reduced. According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reinstate his PGA Tour membership, which had lapsed after 2022.
An eventual suspension would end in August 2026—the same month the 2026 season concludes with the Tour Championship. This timing aligns perfectly for a 2027 return when the PGA Tour plans to compress nearly two dozen $20 million tournaments into a new schedule with limited elite fields, a scenario ideal for Koepka. Investors backing PGA Tour Enterprises would clearly welcome such a marquee name.
Jon Rahm recently expressed confidence that Koepka would eventually return to the PGA Tour, predicting he might initially play selectively, focusing on preferred major events. The PGA Tour’s Returning Member Program, introduced last Thursday, enables certain LIV players, especially major and Players Championship winners of the past three years, to rejoin without suspension—Koepka’s 2023 PGA Championship victory was pivotal. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp emphasized this one-time opportunity closes on February 2, with no guarantee of future availability, potentially impacting other LIV players like Bryson DeChambeau, Cam Smith, and Jon Rahm.
Koepka’s penalty for jumping to LIV is mild: a $5 million charity donation, exclusion from the 2026 FedEx Cup bonus system, and a five-year ban from the PGA Tour’s equity program linked to PGA Tour Enterprises.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Return for 2026
Bryson DeChambeau has officially confirmed participation in LIV Golf’s 2026 season, continuing with the Crushers team alongside Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri. Interestingly, no general contract extension was announced, fueling speculation about behind-the-scenes negotiations aiming to retain LIV’s most marketable player after Koepka’s exit.
Vijay Singh Returns to PGA Tour at 62
In a surprise move, 62-year-old three-time major champion Vijay Singh returns to the PGA Tour utilizing a career money list exemption. Singh, previously active on the PGA Tour Champions with five titles including the Senior Players Championship, starts this week at the Sony Open in Hawaii.
TGL TV Ratings Slump in Second Season
Without Tiger