First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh aims for a comeback, Charley Hull to launch YouTube channel soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season, which begins on February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for family. This was amicably agreed upon, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. However, Koepka is a competitor who is motivated and fired up mainly during top-level competition, something he lacked somewhat in LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 mainly because he feared injury would end his career and sought a solid retirement fund. Thus, his skipping the final contracted season is not surprising, though questions remain. Did he have to buy out his contract or repay part of his guaranteed salary? Does the 35-year-old still own his LIV team Smash GC, which has appointed Talor Gooch as the new captain?
Speculation is rife about which fairways Koepka will play on next. The DP World Tour would grant him immediate playing rights, possibly with a penalty. Or he could return to the PGA Tour, where he currently faces a one-year suspension since his last LIV appearance, after former commissioner Jay Monahan softened lifetime bans significantly. Why remain vindictive when every LIV returnee, especially a high-profile one, benefits the long-established tour? This key question seems partly answered. According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership that ended after 2022 and to be reinstated as a player.
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