First start at the Farmers, Vijay Singh makes a comeback, Charley Hull launches YouTube channel. The Back Nine.
Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh. The five-time major champion will remain connected to the competing circuit but needs more family time, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Speculation surrounds Koepka’s future playing venues. Although he could play on the DP World Tour immediately, possibly with a penalty, his PGA Tour return was uncertain due to a pending one-year suspension after his last LIV appearance. However, ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reports Koepka formally applied last Friday to reinstate his PGA Tour membership after his contract was not renewed post-2022.
An anticipated suspension is set to expire in August, aligning with the end of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship. This timing opens the door for Koepka to compete in 2027 under the PGA Tour’s new schedule featuring nearly two dozen $20 million events with limited elite fields, the ideal comeback scenario for Koepka. PGA Tour Enterprises investors would likely welcome the return of such a prominent name.
Jon Rahm recently expressed confidence in Koepka’s return on the podcast ‘Subpar,’ predicting a selective schedule focused on major tournaments. The Tiger Woods-led competition committee and player directors, including Rory McIlroy who favors Koepka’s reinstatement, hold influence on any suspension decisions. A majority of fans also support Koepka’s return, as indicated by a non-representative survey by Bunkered magazine.
Update: Koepka was immediately reinstated and is eligible to play on the PGA Tour, starting with the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in late January. His participation in the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale is also confirmed. This is enabled by the newly introduced ‘Returning Member Program’ allowing select LIV players to regain PGA Tour membership without suspension.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Start for 2026
Bryson DeChambeau has officially confirmed he will compete in the 2026 LIV Golf League season. His Crushers team, including Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri, will continue into the fifth season unchanged. Notably, DeChambeau has not announced a general contract extension, fueling speculation about behind-the-scenes agreements following Koepka’s departure.
Vijay Singh Returns to PGA Tour at Age 62
Surprisingly, Vijay Singh returns to the PGA Tour at 62 years old. The three-time major winner from Fiji uses his career money list exemption to compete, starting this week at the Sony Open in Hawaii. Singh previously played on the PGA Tour Champions, winning five titles including the Senior Players Championship.
TGL TV Ratings Drop in Season Two
The Tomorrow’s Golf League struggles without Tiger Woods, as evidenced by declining TV ratings. ABC’s opening day of season two drew only 646,000 viewers, down from 919,000 for the premiere season’s first day on ESPN. The second match featuring Atlanta vs. The Bay attracted