First start already at the Farmers; Vijay Singh ready for a comeback; Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
Expected: Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the LIV Golf League for the 2026 season, which begins on February 7 in Riyadh. The five-time major champion will remain connected to the competing circuit but needs more time for family, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. However, Koepka is known as a competitive type who thrives on high-level competition, which he found limited at LIV. Having joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injuries threatening his career and to secure a good retirement fund, it is not surprising he skips the final contracted season, although questions remain about whether he had to buy out his contract or repay part of his guaranteed salary. He still appears to own the LIV team Smash GC, which has named Talor Gooch as its new captain.
Speculation centers on where Koepka will play next—back on the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible, possibly with a penalty; or on the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension after his last LIV start, following a reduction of previous lifetime bans handed down by former Commissioner Jay Monahan. From the PGA Tour’s perspective, allowing prominent LIV returnees strengthens their position. According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022, requesting re-admittance.