First start at Farmers, Vijay Singh back in action, Charley Hull launching on YouTube soon. 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 will remain connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time. LIV CEO Scott McNeil confirmed this amicable arrangement. Koepka, known as a competitor who ignites under top-level competition, was less motivated on LIV. Originally joining LIV in 2022 due to injury-related career concerns and to secure a retirement fund, his skipping the final contractual season raises questions. Has he paid to exit or repaid guaranteed money? Does he remain an owner of Smash GC, which has named Talor Gooch captain?
Speculation abounds on which tours Koepka will next play: the DP World Tour where he’d be immediately eligible, possibly with a fine, or the PGA Tour where he faces a one-year suspension post-LIV, previously a lifetime ban softened under former Commissioner Jay Monahan. Why hold grudges when returning LIV players, especially stars, benefit the PGA Tour? According to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reinstate his PGA Tour membership, which had lapsed after 2022.
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