First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh is back, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more time with his family. This was mutually agreed upon, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is known as a competitive player who thrives on high-level competition, something he only partially found in LIV. In 2022, he primarily joined LIV for financial security after injury concerns threatened his career’s longevity, seeking a solid retirement fund. Thus, skipping the final contractual season is unsurprising, though questions linger about buyouts or paying back guarantees. He remains the owner of his LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation is rife about where Koepka will compete next—on the DP World Tour, where he could play immediately possibly after a penalty payment, or on the PGA Tour, where a one-year suspension since his last LIV event applies, yet lifetime bans imposed by former Commissioner Jay Monahan have been significantly softened. Why be vindictive when every LIV returnee benefits the more powerful PGA Tour? This question seems partly answered: ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022, to be reinstated as a playing member.