First start already at the Farmers; Vijay Singh aims for a comeback; Charley Hull to launch YouTube channel soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, five-time major winner Brooks Koepka has opted out of the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; he will remain connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his family. This was reportedly agreed upon amicably, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. However, Koepka is known to be a competitive type who thrives on high-level competition, which he found somewhat lacking at LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 due to injury concerns that put his career in doubt, aiming to secure a solid retirement fund. Thus, skipping his final contractual season is unsurprising, though questions remain about financial settlements and ownership of his LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation is rife about which fairways Koepka will appear on next. The DP World Tour would grant immediate playing rights, likely with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension since his last LIV appearance, following a significant reduction of the lifetime bans initially imposed by former Commissioner Jay Monahan. Why be vindictive when every returning LIV player, especially a star like Koepka, benefits the more dominant Tour? This question seems partly answered. ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reported Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022.
Update: The news spread rapidly Monday evening 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. His participation in the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, Arizona, is also confirmed.
This is made possible by a newly created rule called the ‘Returning Member Program,’ which allows selected LIV players to regain PGA Tour membership without suspension. In Koepka’s case, his sporting achievements, especially his 2023 PGA Championship win as a fifth major, were considered.
The PGA Tour states this special provision applies to major and Players Championship winners from the past three years; the deadline is February 2. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp emphasized this is a one-time, well-defined opportunity and not a precedent for future cases. This likely causes concern for players like Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith, as well as LIV Golf.
Koepka’s penalties for leaving LIV are mild: a $5 million donation to PGA Tour charity funds, exclusion from the 2026 FedEx Cup bonus system, and a five-year ban from the PGA Tour’s equity program linked to investors in PGA Tour Enterprises.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Start for 2026
Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed he will compete in the LIV Golf League in 2026. His Crushers team with Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri continues into the fifth season. Interestingly, DeChambeau did not announce a general contract extension. Speculation about backstage agreements to retain the league’s most marketable player after