First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager to return, Charley Hull launching a YouTube channel. 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion will remain connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time. LIV CEO Scott McNeil confirmed this friendly agreement. Koepka, known as a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, had limited motivation playing in LIV. In 2022, he joined LIV mostly due to injury fears near the end of his career and to secure a substantial retirement fund. Hence, skipping the final contracted season is not surprising, though questions remain about contract buyouts or repayments. At 35, he still owns his LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation abounds about which fairways Koepka will next play on—DP World Tour where he would be eligible immediately, possibly with a penalty, or the PGA Tour where he faces a one-year suspension since his last LIV event, after lifetime bans by former Commissioner Jay Monahan were significantly softened. Returning LIV players, especially high-profile ones, benefit the PGA Tour, already holding the upper hand. ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reported Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership lost after 2022 and to rejoin the players’ ranks.