First start at the Farmers, Vijay Singh ready to compete again, Charley Hull launching a YouTube channel soon. 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his family. The decision was amicably agreed upon according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. However, Koepka is a competitor who thrives in high-level competition, something he found somewhat lacking at LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 while recovering from injury, aiming to secure his retirement fund. Given this, his withdrawal from the last contractual season is not surprising though questions remain, including if he had to buy out his contract or return part of his guaranteed earnings. He remains owner of the LIV team Smash GC, with Talor Gooch as the new captain.
Speculation abounds about which fairways Koepka will appear on next: the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible possibly after paying a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension from his last LIV event, albeit those lifetime bans have been significantly softened by the former commissioner Jay Monahan. Why be vengeful when every returnee to the PGA Tour benefits the tour that holds the upper hand? This question seems partially answered. As ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reported, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022, to be reinstated among its players.
Update: It has now happened. 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 late January in Torrey Pines. His participation at the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona is also confirmed.
This was made possible by the recently implemented \”Returning Member Program,\” allowing selected LIV players to regain PGA Tour membership without suspension. Koepka’s case considered his sporting merits, notably his 2023 PGA Championship win as his fifth major.
The PGA Tour’s statement notes the exemption applies to major and Players Championship winners from the last three years, with a deadline of February 2. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp emphasized this unique opportunity is non-precedential. This move likely concerns players like Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith and unsettles LIV Golf League.
Koepka’s penalties for leaving LIV are mild: he must donate five million dollars to PGA Tour charities and will be excluded from the 2026 FedEx Cup bonus system and the PGA Tour Enterprises equity program for five years.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Start for 2026
Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed he will participate in LIV Golf League’s 2026 season. His Crushers team with Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri will continue unchanged into the fifth season. Interestingly, DeChambeau has not announced a general contract extension, raising speculation about behind-the-scenes dealings to retain LIV’s most marketable star after