First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager to play again, Charley Hull soon launching on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion will remain connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time. This was officially stated by LIV CEO Scott McNeil. However, Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, which he found somewhat lacking at LIV. He joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns near the end of his career and to secure a lucrative retirement fund. Therefore, skipping the final contractual season is unsurprising, though questions remain about financial details and whether he remains owner of his LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation is rife about which tours Koepka will appear on next — the DP World Tour, where he would be eligible immediately (likely paying a penalty), or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year ban since his last LIV appearance, following a significant easing of prior lifetime bans by former commissioner Jay Monahan. Why be vindictive when every LIV returnee, especially a star, plays into the hands of the longer-established Tour? This question seems partially answered. According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022, seeking reinstatement.