In rare move, ESPN to carry Brooks Koepka’s PGA Tour return

Field Level Media|published: 01/26/2026, 6:32pm EST

Jun 14, 2025; Oakmont, Pennsylvania, USA; Brooks Koepka plays his shot from the first tee during the third round of the U.S. Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

ESPN will air live coverage of the first two rounds of this week's Farmers Insurance Open on Thursday and Friday, coinciding with Brooks Koepka's return to the PGA Tour from LIV Golf.

According to the tour, it will be the first time in nearly 20 years that ESPN carries live coverage of a non-major tour event.

ESPN has a deal to stream "PGA Tour Live" on ESPN+, which expands coverage of many tournaments throughout the season. But this agreement will see the Farmers Insurance Open broadcast on linear ESPN -- as well as the Hulu and Disney+ apps -- from 12-3 p.m. ET on Thursday and Friday at Torrey Pines in San Diego. Golf Channel picks up the coverage of those rounds starting at 3.

Tee times won't be posted till Tuesday, but the tour already announced Koepka will be part of a featured group with Max Homa and Sweden's Ludvig Aberg. They will play in the early window Thursday.

Koepka, 35, became the first star player to leave LIV Golf and return to the PGA Tour. The five-time major champion was assessed a financial penalty by the tour as part of his pathway to return.

He has not played in a non-major tour event since March 2022 in the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.

--Field Level Media