First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh still eager to compete, Charley Hull soon launching on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time. LIV CEO Scott McNeil stated the decision was amicable. Koepka, a competitor who thrives in top-level contests, has had limited motivation playing LIV. He switched in 2022 mainly for financial security after injury concerns. Questions remain whether he had to repay part of his guaranteed salary. He remains the owner of the LIV team Smash GC, led now by Talor Gooch.
Speculations abound about which tours Koepka will join next — the DP World Tour where he could play immediately (likely with a penalty), or the PGA Tour where he faces a one-year suspension after his last LIV event, as lifetime bans by former commissioner Jay Monahan have been downgraded. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported last Friday that Koepka formally applied to reactivate his PGA Tour membership after it was not renewed post-2022.
Update: The rumored leniency came true as news spread that Koepka is immediately eligible to play on the PGA Tour and will tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines. He is also confirmed for the WM Phoenix Open in Arizona. This is possible through a new \”Returning Member Program\” allowing select LIV players membership without suspension.
The suspension would have ended in August, overlapping with the end of the 2026 season, but Koepka would be eligible for 2027 under the PGA Tour’s compressed schedule featuring nearly two dozen $20 million events with limited elite fields—a perfect comeback scenario. Jon Rahm recently expressed optimism on the \”Subpar\” podcast, saying Koepka might play minimally at first and then focus on larger events. The PGA Tour board, player directors, and Tiger Woods-led competition committee have influence over suspensions; Rory McIlroy endorses Koepka’s immediate return, aligning with majority fan sentiment per a \”Bunkered\” magazine poll.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Start for 2026
Bryson DeChambeau officially announced he will compete in LIV Golf’s 2026 season with his Crushers team including Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri unchanged. Interestingly, no new contract extension was disclosed, fueling speculation about behind-the-scenes agreements to retain LIV’s top marketable star after Koepka’s departure.
Vijay Singh Returns to PGA Tour at 62
In a surprising move, three-time major champion Vijay Singh from Fiji is back on the PGA Tour using an exemption based on his career earnings ranking. He starts this week at the Sony Open in Hawaii, having previously won five titles on the PGA Tour Champions, including the Senior Players Championship.
TGL Faces Weak TV Ratings in Season Two Launch
The Tomorrow’s Golf League (TGL) struggled without Tiger Woods, who drew strong audiences in season one. The season two