First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh is back, 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time. This was mutually agreed upon, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeill. However, Koepka is a competitive type who thrives on high-level competition, something the LIV circuit offered less. He joined LIV in 2022 mainly to secure a good retirement fund after injuries threatened his career. Therefore, skipping the last contractual season is unsurprising, though questions remain about buyout or repayments. He also remains owner of LIV team Smash GC, with Talor Gooch as the new captain.
Speculation centers on where Koepka will play next: the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible, likely with a penalty; or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension after his last LIV participation, following easing of original lifetime bans by former Commissioner Jay Monahan. Returning LIV players, especially prominent ones like Koepka, benefit the PGA Tour. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reports Koepka formally applied last Friday to reinstate his PGA Tour membership after it was not extended post-2022.
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