First start at the Farmers, Vijay Singh still eager, Charley Hull launching on YouTube soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time. This was amicably agreed upon, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level contests, which he found limited in LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 due to injury concerns threatening his career and to secure a substantial retirement fund. Thus, skipping the final contract year is not surprising, though questions remain about whether he had to buy out or return a portion of his guaranteed salary. It is also uncertain if the 35-year-old remains owner of his LIV team Smash GC, which appointed Talor Gooch as the new captain.
Speculations abound on where Koepka will next compete. He would be eligible immediately on the DP World Tour—possibly with a penalty—or on the PGA Tour, where a one-year suspension has been in place since his last LIV start, after previous lifetime bans were significantly softened by the former Commissioner Jay Monahan. Why hold grudges when every prominent LIV returnee benefits the tour with leverage? This crucial question seems partially answered. According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership that was not renewed after 2022, seeking readmission to the playing field.