First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh back in action, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially opted out of the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his family. This was reportedly a friendly agreement, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. But Koepka is a competitor who gets truly motivated and fired up during top-level sporting battles, a condition he only partly found at LIV. Having switched in 2022 mainly because of injury concerns threatening his career’s end and seeking a solid retirement fund, his waiver of the final contractual season is unsurprising, although questions remain. Did he have to buy out his contract or return part of his guaranteed salary? Does the 35-year-old remain an owner of his LIV team Smash GC, which has already named Talor Gooch as its new captain?
Speculations are especially lively about which fairways Koepka will appear on next. On the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible – possibly with a penalty fee? Or on the PGA Tour, where he must serve a one-year suspension since his last LIV appearance after the former commissioner Jay Monahan reduced lifetime bans significantly? Why be vengeful when every LIV returnee, especially a prominent one, plays into the hands of the longer-established Tour? This central question seems partially answered. According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, last Friday Koepka formally applied to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not extended after 2022, aiming to be reinstated into the players’ circle.