Brooks Koepka is returning to the PGA Tour this year, and there’s a deadline if other prominent LIV Golf members want to take advantage of the quicker-than-expected path he’s using to get back there.

It was created in response to Koepka applying for reinstatement to the PGA Tour, as well as research that showed fans wanted to see the best golfers competing together more often. Koepka is eligible for the PGA Tour again through his 2023 PGA Championship win, though the new program also includes a steep financial penalty.

Returning players will not receive any payment from the FedExCup bonus program for the 2026 season and will be ineligible to earn equity from the player equity program for the next five years (2026-2030). Koepka could miss out on approximately $50-85 million in potential equity earnings, according to the PGA Tour, depending on his competitive performance and the Tour’s growth. He also agreed to make a $5 million charitable contribution to an agreed-upon organization.

Koepka will still have to play his way into the lucrative signature events on the PGA Tour schedule. He is ineligible for sponsor exemptions into those fields. Other tournament fields will be expanded to accommodate Koepka’s presence in order to ensure PGA Tour golfers don’t lose a spot this season due to his return.

‘The penalty is significant but I understand why they’ve done it. It hurts but it’s supposed to,’ Koepka told Golfweek. ‘I’ve got a lot of work to do with the players and I want to do that one-on-one. I want to have those conversations, but behind closed doors.’

Koepka announced he was forgoing the final year on his contract with LIV Golf on Dec. 23 and left ‘amicably,’ according to LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil. Koepka was the first golfer to win a major while playing for LIV Golf at the 2023 PGA Championship.

There are three other LIV Golf members eligible to return to the PGA Tour based on the criteria of the Returning Member Program: Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith. The PGA Tour said those golfers have until Feb. 2 to accept the terms of the program and still be eligible to participate in the 2026 season. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp emphasized, however, that this alternative route won’t necessarily exist in the future.

‘This is a one-time, defined window and does not set a precedent for future situations. Once the door closes, there is no promise that this path will be available again,’ Rolapp wrote in a letter to fans. ‘We will continue to aggressively pursue anything that enhances the fan experience and makes the PGA Tour stronger. This is part of our commitment to fans, who expect the world’s best players to compete on the PGA Tour week in and week out.’

The NBA trade deadline is quickly approaching, and that will certainly alter the balance of power within the league.

But, right now, teams appear to be mostly in holding patterns, though we already saw the Hawks and Wizards make a deal by swapping Trae Young for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. More trades are sure to follow, but look for teams who are expected to compete to leverage any assets they may have to make up for weaknesses on the roster.

One team worth watching is the Houston Rockets, who have lost three consecutive games and who have been called out for their effort and toughness. They are this week’s biggest fallers.

Here are USA TODAY Sports’ NBA power rankings after Week 11 of the 2025-26 regular season:

USA TODAY Sports NBA power rankings

Note: Records and stats through Jan. 11. Parentheses show movement from last week’s rankings.

NBA Week 12 power rankings: Top 10

1. Oklahoma City Thunder, 33-7 (—)

2. Detroit Pistons, 28-10 (—)

3. San Antonio Spurs, 27-12 (—)

4. Denver Nuggets, 26-13 (+1)

5. Boston Celtics, 24-14 (-1)

6. New York Knicks, 23-12 (—)

7. Minnesota Timberwolves, 26-14 (—)

8. Phoenix Suns, 24-15 (+2)

9. Toronto Raptors, 24-16 (+2)

10. Los Angeles Lakers, 23-13 (-2)

The Thunder aren’t all the way back to their previous levels of dominance from the beginning of the season, but Oklahoma City has course corrected on a three-game winning streak. The big movers are the Suns, who have the NBA’s third best defensive rating (102.9) over the last six games, which include wins over teams like the Knicks and Thunder.

And the Nuggets are in an interesting spot: star Nikola Jokić remains sidelined with a knee injury and Denver is still banged up. Some recent losses have pushed the Nuggets a touch down the West, but Aaron Gordon is back, Christian Braun is nearing a return and Denver has shown it remains an incredibly tough team to beat, even in the face of these injuries.

NBA Week 12 power rankings: Nos. 11-20

11. Philadelphia 76ers, 21-16 (+1)

12. Orlando Magic, 22-18 (+2)

13. Cleveland Cavaliers, 22-18 (+2)

14. Atlanta Hawks, 20-21 (+6)

15. Houston Rockets, 21-11 (-6)

16. Golden State Warriors, 21-19 (—)

17. Miami Heat, 20-19 (-4)

18. Portland Trail Blazers, 19-21 (+1)

19. Milwaukee Bucks, 17-22 (-1)

20. Chicago Bulls, 17-18 (-3)

Philadelphia continues its quiet march toward contention in the East, and the Sixers are particularly dangerous when all three of Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and Paul George play. The Hawks, on a three-game winning streak, have more stability and direction after the Trae Young trade. Atlanta was playing better without him, anyway, highlighted by an improved defense.

The Heat are on a three-game losing streak and their offense has lost its momentum. The struggles of captain Bam Adebayo, who’s averaging just 10.9 points per game over his last eight, are a big reason why. But it’s the Rockets, losers of three in a row, who are this week’s biggest sliders. Houston’s skid has come against the Trail Blazers (twice) and the Kings, and coach Ime Udoka has challenged his team’s effort and toughness.

NBA Week 12 power rankings: Nos. 21-30

21. Los Angeles Clippers, 15-23 (—)

22. Memphis Grizzlies, 17-22 (—)

23. Charlotte Hornets, 14-25 (+2)

24. Utah Jazz, 13-25 (-2)

25. Dallas Mavericks, 14-25 (-2)

26. Washington Wizards, 10-28 (+1)

27. Brooklyn Nets, 11-25 (-1)

28. Indiana Pacers, 8-31 (+2)

29. Sacramento Kings, 9-30 (—)

30. New Orleans Pelicans, 9-32 (-2)

The Clippers are starting to make their push up the standings, but they still have a long way to go. Kawhi Leonard is on a heater and James Harden is playing better, but the biggest thing is L.A. is limiting turnovers; after starting the season committing 15.6 turnovers in November, the Clippers have averaged just 13.0 turnovers per game over their last 10, tied for best in the NBA.

The Pacers climb out of the cellar after consecutive wins over the Hornets and Heat.

Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert has been suspended for one game without pay after picking up too many flagrant fouls under the NBA’s points system, the league office announced on Monday, Jan. 12.

Gobert entered Sunday’s game between the Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs with five flagrant foul points and then was charged with a flagrant foul 1 with 7:24 remaining in the fourth quarter of Minnesota’s 104-103 win. The call occurred after Gobert was charged with not giving Victor Wembanyama enough space in his landing zone on a 3-point attempt.

If a player at five or six flagrant foul points commits a flagrant 1 foul during a game, he is required to serve an automatic one-game suspension under NBA rules. Gobert, who now has six flagrant foul points, will miss the Timberwolves’ road game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday, Jan. 13 as a result of this latest flagrant foul.

Gobert will receive a suspension for each additional flagrant foul he commits the rest of the season. If he’s charged with a flagrant 2 foul, he would have to serve a two-game suspension. If he commits another flagrant 1 foul, it would only be a one-game suspension the first time. However, once a player with seven or more flagrant foul points commits another flagrant foul of either variety, he must serve a two-game suspension.

Gobert, 33, is averaging 11 points, 11.4 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game in his 13th NBA season. He is shooting a team-best 71.7% from the floor. He finished Sunday’s game with two points and 14 rebounds and did not play much in crunch time after the flagrant foul happened.

“It’s tough, because I try to be contesting shots in the heat of the moment,” Gobert said, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. “I don’t think there’s at any time an intention of getting anybody hurt or putting people in dangerous situations. It’s tough. But got to play through it.”

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Michigan’s reign atop the USA TODAY Sports men’s basketball coaches poll is over, at least for now. The Wolverines’ loss to a hot-shooting Wisconsin knocks them from the No. 1 perch they’ve held for the last month.

Taking over the top spot is Arizona. The Wildcats, now one of just five teams in Division I still unscathed, received 29 of 31 first-place votes this week. It’s their first time in the top position since Dec. 11, 2023. Iowa State, also still unbeaten, moves up a spot to No. 2 with a single first-place nod. Michigan slips to No. 3 but retains one No.-1 vote. Connecticut and Purdue continue to round out the top five.

TOP 25: Complete USA TODAY Sports men’s basketball poll

No. 6 Duke and No. 7 Houston also hold steady. Undefeated Vanderbilt moves up two positions to No. 8, edging ahead of Gonzaga. Climbing into the top 10 for the first time in the coaches poll is Nebraska, which needed a huge rally at Indiana over the weekend but kept its record clean.

Florida rejoins the poll at No. 20 after a one-week absence. No. 21 Clemson and No. 24 Utah State enter the rankings for the first time this season. No. 23 Iowa and No. 25 Kansas stay in the poll despite losses. Tennessee, Villanova and SMU weren’t as fortunate as they fall out of the top 25.

The NHL officially announced the Buffalo Sabres will host the 2026 draft.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, along with Sabres owner Terry Pegula and team COO Pete Guelli, made the announcement on Monday ahead of Buffalo’s clash with the Florida Panthers.

‘I look forward to both the atmosphere and significance of hosting the NHL draft in Buffalo,’ Pegula said. ‘Being able to share in that excitement with our fans and fans around the league is a unique opportunity.’

This will be the fourth time Buffalo hosts the NHL draft.

Buffalo last hosted the event in 2016. The Toronto Maple Leafs owned the first overall pick for that draft and selected center Auston Matthews.

This time around, among the top prospects who could be the first overall pick in the 2026 draft are Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg. McKenna leads North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting’s mid-season rankings that were also revealed on Monday. Stenberg, meanwhile, leads the International skaters.

The 2026 draft is set to be decentralized and will take place from June 26 to 27.

Instead of the traditional format in which each NHL organization has a table at the venue and works the draft in person, executives will make their decisions and draft picks from their home markets for the second straight year.

Last year’s decentralized draft in Los Angeles received mixed reviews, particularly because of how long the first round took. With the first round of the draft lasting well over three-and-a-half hours, the league is set to make changes for the upcoming event.

In 2025, when a player was drafted, they’d be ushered by Bettman into a separate room where they would chat on a virtual call with the respective team’s front office. That will be removed for this summer’s draft, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.

Players would also be required to go through a handful of interviews with media outlets after being selected. This time, there will only be one interviewer for the drafted players instead of two or three.

The league is also looking into changing the layout in which the prospects sit in the venue to make the walk-up to the stage shorter, Friedman reported.

These changes are supposed to make the event smoother and less time-consuming.

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Starting tonight, LeBron James’ jerseys are going to look unlike those worn by anybody else in the NBA.

In conjunction with Topps, the league announced Monday, Jan. 12, that James will wear a specialized commemorative patch on his upper right chest in honor of his NBA record 23rd season for the rest of the year. James will first wear the patch Monday during the Los Angeles Lakers game against the Sacramento Kings.

The patch includes a silhouette of James’ figure during his infamous pre-game gesture of tossing powdered chalk into the air. The patch also includes colors of the two other teams he has played for, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat.

After each game the Lakers equipment manager will remove the patches, date them, and they will be shipped to the Topps production facility in Dallas where they will be authenticated and placed into trading cards. The process of removing and dating the patches will be recorded on video.

Earlier this season, when he made his debut Nov. 18 against the Utah Jazz, James set an NBA record for most seasons played, surpassing the mark he had held with Hall of Famer Vince Carter.

James, who turned 41 in late December, has remained a productive player despite his age and is reimagining the standard of expected performance for a player his age. He’s averaging 21.9 points, 6.9 assists and 5.6 rebounds per game across 19 contests.

Alongside star guard Luka Dončić, James is helping keep the Lakers (23-13) competitive, currently ranked fifth in the Western Conference.

Dean Evason, who nearly got the Columbus Blue Jackets into the playoffs amid tragedy in 2024-25, is out of a job after the team’s slow start.

The Blue Jackets announced on Monday, Jan. 12, that they had fired Evason and were bringing in NHL veteran coach Rick Bowness to replace him. Assistant coach Steve McCarthy also was fired.

“This season has been a frustrating one for all of us, and the bottom line is we are not performing at a level that meets our expectations,’ general manager Don Waddell said in a statement. ‘We all share in that responsibility, me included, and while this was not a decision that was made lightly it is one that needed to be made at this time. Dean did a tremendous job last year under extremely difficult circumstances and I thank him for that.’

Evason is the first NHL head coach fired this season.

The Blue Jackets missed the playoffs by two points last season despite the death of star Johnny Gaudreau in August 2024. He and his brother Matthew were hit by a car while bicycling in New Jersey.

Bowness, 70, had announced his retirement in 2024 after spending nearly 50 years in the league as a player or coach. He had most recently coached the Winnipeg Jets and had led the Dallas Stars to the 2020 Stanley Cup Final.

“Rick Bowness is a tremendous coach with invaluable experience and knowledge, and he will bring a steadiness to our team at an important juncture in our season,” said Waddell. “He is a good communicator whose teams play with structure, are sound defensively and we believe he is the right person to bring out the best in our group.”

The Blue Jackets, who ended a four-game losing streak on Sunday, are last in the Metropolitan Division with a 19-19-7 record. Evason, 61, finishes his tenure in Columbus with a 59-52-16 record.

Cruz Medina would have done anything to play for the San Jose Earthquakes, but the MLS club killed the top prospect’s dream by not giving him a chance, his father says.

Antonio Guero Medina launched a diatribe on social media as reports say his son is on the verge of joining Liga MX power Chivas.

The 19-year-old developed a reputation as a top prospect in San Jose’s academy, signing as a Homegrown Player in 2022 when he was 15.

But Medina has yet to make his first-team debut for the Earthquakes, spending his time in MLS Next Pro with the club’s reserve side The Town FC.

With his son on the verge of leaving his childhood team without a senior appearance to his name, Medina’s father hit out at the club on his Instagram story.

He said his son was an Earthquakes fan since birth and ‘willing to do anything for the badge,’ but claimed that the club ‘found every way to kill his dream.’

The midfielder’s father added that ‘all these people they have in charge (don’t) have a (expletive) clue!’ He concluded his post by encouraging young players to steer clear of San Jose’s academy.

Medina is set to embark on a fresh start at Chivas, as reports state he will begin with the club’s reserve side CD Tapatío.

The California-born player has represented the United States at various youth international levels, but has also accepted a call-up from Mexico’s under-20 side. His international future is still up in the air.

Any pro tennis player determined to win the four Grand Slams in a calendar year must start Down Under. As in Melbourne, site of the Australian Open, the sport’s first Grand Slam of the year.

The first round of play is set for Jan. 18-20 on the hardcourts at Rod Laver Arena.

(A player who wins all four Grand Slams in a calendar year would be elevated into rarefied air. Only Rod Laver, Margaret Court and Steffi Graf have pulled off that feat in the Open Era, when prize money was awarded for Grand Slams.)

This year, on the men’s side, Italy’s Jannik Sinner will be looking for his third consecutive title at the Australian Open, but his chief rival, Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, will be the top seed.

On the women’s side, American Madison Keys arrives as the defending champion. But Aryna Sabalenka, seeking her third title in four years, will be the favorite and Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff contenders.

Not to look too far ahead, but Grand Slam play will continue with the French Open starting in May, Wimbledon starting to in June and the U.S. Open starting in August.

When is the Australian Open? Dates and schedule

Jan. 18-20: Round 1
Jan. 21-22: Round 2
Jan. 23-24: Round 3
Jan. 25-26: Round 4 (Round of 16)
Jan. 27-28: Quarterfinals.
Jan. 29: Women’s semifinals.
Jan. 30: Men’s semi-finals
Jan. 31: Women’s final
Feb. 1: Men’s final

Australian Open Times

Melbourne is 16 hours ahead of New York, creating some challenging viewing times. Matches are scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. local time (7 p.m. ET) and as late as 7:30 p.m. local time (3:30 a.m. ET).
Start times for matches will be 11 a.m. (7 p.m. ET), noon (8 p.m. ET), 7 p.m. (3 a.m. ET) and 7:30 p.m. (3:30 a.m.)

How to watch the Australian Open

The Australian Open will be broadcast across ESPN and ESPN 2. You can also stream on Fubo, which offers a free trial for new users.