First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh making a comeback, Charley Hull soon 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion will remain connected to the competing circuit but needs more family time. This was mutually agreed upon according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. However, Koepka is known as a competitive player who thrives on high-level competition, which he found somewhat lacking at LIV. He originally joined LIV in 2022 mainly because injuries threatened to end his career prematurely and to secure a good retirement fund. Thus, his decision to skip the last contractual season is not surprising, though questions remain. Did he have to buy out his contract or return part of his guaranteed fee? Is he still owner of the LIV team Smash GC, which recently appointed Talor Gooch as captain?
Speculation abounds about where Koepka will next compete. He would be immediately eligible for the DP World Tour, possibly with a penalty, or on the PGA Tour where he must serve a one-year suspension since his last LIV event, after lifelong bans imposed by former commissioner Jay Monahan were significantly reduced. It makes little sense to be vindictive when every high-profile LIV returnee benefits the more powerful established tour. This question seems partially answered now: according to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which had not been renewed after 2022, to rejoin the playing field.