First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager for more, Charley Hull soon launching a YouTube channel. The Back Nine.
Predictably, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 season of the LIV Golf League, which starts on February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will remain connected to the competing circuit but needs more time for his family. This was reportedly agreed upon amicably, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. However, Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, and that motivation was somewhat limited during his time with LIV. Originally, he joined Saudi-backed LIV in 2022 mainly because he feared his career might end prematurely due to injuries and wanted to secure a good retirement pension. Thus, skipping his final contract year isn’t surprising, though questions remain about whether he had to buy out or repay part of his guaranteed salary. It is also unclear if the 35-year-old remains the owner of his LIV team Smash GC, which has already appointed Talor Gooch as its new captain.
Speculations abound about where Koepka will play next – on the DP World Tour, where he’s immediately eligible to compete, possibly facing a penalty? Or back on the PGA Tour, where he would serve a one-year suspension since his last LIV event, after previous lifetime bans imposed by former commissioner Jay Monahan were significantly softened? Why be vindictive when every returning LIV player, especially a prominent one, benefits the established Tour which holds much control? This crucial question seems partly answered. According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally submitted an application last Friday to reinstate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022, aiming for reentry into the player pool.