Golf Glance: Brooks Koepka's PGA Tour return; LPGA begins '26 with TOC

Brooks Koepka's return to the PGA Tour at the Farmers Insurance Open dominates the headlines in professional golf this week. Meanwhile, the LPGA Tour kicks off its season with the Tournament of Champions, while the DP World Tour heads to Qatar.

PGA TOUR

THIS WEEK: Farmers Insurance Open, San Diego, Jan. 29-Feb. 1

Course: Torrey Pines Golf Course (South: Par 72, 7,765 Yards; North: Par 72, 7,258 Yards)

Purse: $9.6M (Winner: $1,728,000)

Defending Champion: Harris English

FedEx Cup Leaders: Chris Gotterup, Scottie Scheffler

HOW TO FOLLOW

TV: Thursday-Friday: Noon-3 p.m. ET (ESPN, Hulu, Disney+), 3-7 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday: 1-3 p.m. (GC), 3-6:30 p.m. (CBS, Paramount+); Sunday: 1-3 p.m. (GC), 3-6 p.m. (CBS, Paramount+)

Streaming: Thursday-Friday: Noon-7 p.m. ET; Saturday: 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m.; Sunday: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (ESPN+)

X: @FarmersInsOpen

NOTES: All players will play one round on each course, with those making the cut competing on the South Course over the weekend. ... Brooks Koepka will play in his first PGA Tour event since signing with LIV Golf in 2022, with ESPN broadcasting live its first non-major tour event in nearly two decades. ... This is the third of four events that will determine the Aon Swing 5 for spots in the first two signature events of the year. The list is currently led by Patrick Rodgers, Matt McCarty, Andrew Putnam, Pierceson Coody and S.H. Kim. ... English is seeking to become the first player to successfully defend at the Farmers Insurance Open since Tiger Woods won the tournament four consecutive years from 2005-08. ... Woods' 266 in 1999 tied the tournament scoring record set by George Burns in 1987. Woods also holds the South Course record of 62 set in the third round that year. ... Marcus Byrd is in the field after winning the APGA Farmers Insurance Invitational at Torrey Pines by three strokes. Other sponsor exemptions include veterans Camilo Villegas and Brandt Snedeker along with Justin Hastings, winner of the 2025 Latin America Amateur Championship.

BEST BETS: Xander Schauffele (+1500 at DraftKings) is making his 2026 debut. The San Diego native missed the event due to injury last year but did finish T9 here in 2024. ... Ludvig Aberg (+1700) was the first-round leader last year before becoming ill. He returned a few weeks later to win the relocated Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines. ... Cameron Young (+1950) is also making his season debut. He has not finished lower than 11th in his past six worldwide starts. ... Si Woo Kim (+2600) closed last year with a T4 at the RSM and a third in Australia before opening 2026 with a T11 in Honolulu and a T6 at the AmEx. ... Chris Gotterup (+2600) is a career-high 17th in the world following his win at the Sony Open. ... Jason Day (+3300) is a two-time event winner who also has a T2 and T3 at Torrey Pines. He is also coming off a T2 at the AmEx.

Last Tournament: The American Express (Scottie Scheffler)

Next Tournament: WM Phoenix Open, Feb. 5-8

LPGA TOUR

THIS WEEK: Tournament of Championship, Orlando, Jan. 29-Feb. 1

Course: Lake Nona Golf & Country Club (Par 72, 6,624 Yards)

Purse: $2.1M

Defending Champion: A Lim Kim

Race to the CME Globe Champion: Jeeno Thitikul

HOW TO FOLLOW

TV/Streaming: Thursday-Friday: 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); Saturday: 2:30-3 p.m. (GC digital), 3-5:30 p.m. (GC); Sunday: 1-4 p.m. (Peacock), 2-4 p.m. (NBC)

X: @HiltonGrandVac

NOTES: The eighth edition of the tournament will feature a pro-am format with 39 professionals competing in a stroke-play event, along with 44 amateurs playing in a Modified Stableford scoring format. Both are 72-hole events with no cut. ... World No. 1 Thitikul leads a field that includes seven of the top 10 players in the rankings. ... Kim beat Nelly Korda by two strokes last year. ... Korda and Danielle Kang set the tournament scoring record of 260 in 2021, when Korda went on to win in a playoff. ... Lake Nona played host to the inaugural Solheim Cup in 1990.

Last Tournament: CME Group Tour Championship (Thitikul)

Next Tournament: Honda LPGA Thailand, Pattaya, Chonburi, Feb. 19-22

DP WORLD TOUR

THIS WEEK: Bahrain Championship, Al Mazrowiah Bahrain, Jan. 29-Feb. 1

Course: Royal GC (Par 72, 7,439 Yards)

Purse: $2.75M

Defending Champion: Laurie Canter

Race to Dubai Leader: Jayden Schaper

HOW TO FOLLOW

TV: Thursday-Friday: 3:30-8:30 a.m. ET; Saturday: 4-8:30 a.m.; Sunday: 3:30-8:30 a.m. (Golf Channel)

X: @DPWorldTour

NOTES: This is the third event of the tour's International Swing and the start of the five-event Rolex Series. ... Canter, Schaper and Nacho Elvira, who won in Dubai two weeks ago, will be paired together for the first two rounds. The field also includes former Masters champions Patrick Reed and Sergio Garcia. ... Any player who beats the course record of 61, posted by Brandon Robinson Thompson in the first round last year, will earn a $70,000 bonus.

Last Tournament: Hero Dubai Desert Classic (Patrick Reed)

Next Tournament: Qatar Masters, Doha, Feb. 5-8

PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS

THIS WEEK: OFF

Charles Schwab Cup leader: Stewart Cink

Last Tournament: Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai, Ka'upulehu-Kona, Hawaii, Jan. 22-24 (Cink)

Next Tournament: Chubb Classic, Naples, Fla., Feb. 13-15

LIV GOLF LEAGUE

THIS WEEK: OFF

Season Winners: Individual: Jon Rahm; Team: Legion XIII

Last Tournament: Team Championship (Legion XIII)

Next Tournament: LIV Golf Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Feb. 4-7

--Field Level Media