First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh wants to try again, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has opted out of 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 friendly agreement was stated officially by LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka, known as a competitive type who thrives on high-level competition, was less motivated at LIV. He originally joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns about ending his career, looking to secure a good retirement fund. Thus, skipping the last contractually required season is not surprising, though questions remain about possible buyouts or repayment of guarantees. He also remains owner of the LIV team Smash GC, which recently named Talor Gooch as new captain.
Speculations are rife about where Koepka will next compete. DP World Tour would grant him immediate eligibility, possibly with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension from his last LIV appearance, since lifetime bans were substantially softened. Why be vindictive when prominent LIV returnees benefit the Tour that holds the longer lever? This question has partially answered: ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reported that last Friday Koepka formally applied to reactivate his PGA Tour membership and be reinstated into the player pool after his post-2022 hiatus.