First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh is ready to compete again, and Charley Hull is soon launching on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season, which starts on February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will stay connected to the competing circuit but needs more family time. The decision was reportedly mutual, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is a competitor who thrives at the highest level of competition and was less motivated with LIV. He originally joined the Saudi league in 2022 believing his career was ending due to injuries and to secure a solid retirement fund. Thus, skipping the last contractual season is unsurprising, although questions remain about financial settlements and his continued ownership of LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation is rife about where Koepka will next compete — on the DP World Tour, where he is immediately eligible (possibly with a penalty), or back on the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension from his last LIV appearance. The lifetime bans formerly enforced by Commissioner Jay Monahan were significantly softened. Returning LIV players, especially prominent ones, benefit the PGA Tour brand, which likely influenced the decision. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported that Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, seeking reinstatement to the player pool after its lapse post-2022.