First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh is back, Charley Hull launching on YouTube soon. The Back Nine.
Predictably, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time. This amicable agreement was announced by LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is a competitor who thrives in high-level contests, something he found limited in LIV. He switched in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns at the tail end of his career and to secure a solid retirement fund. Thus, skipping his final contract year is unsurprising, though questions remain about potential buyouts or refunding guarantees. He still owns his LIV team Smash GC, led now by Talor Gooch.
Speculations arise about where Koepka will next play. The DP World Tour would grant immediate eligibility—possibly with penalties—or the PGA Tour, where he would serve a one-year suspension since his last LIV event. These lifetime bans imposed by former commissioner Jay Monahan have since been softened. Why keep grudges when returning LIV stars, especially high-profile ones, benefit the more dominant tours? ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reports Koepka formally requested reinstatement to the PGA Tour last Friday, aiming to regain membership after 2022.
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