First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager to compete again, Charley Hull launching her own YouTube channel soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf League season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time. This was a friendly agreement, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is a competitor who thrives in top-level contests, something he lacked in LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 believing his career was nearing its end due to injuries and sought a good retirement fund. His skipping the final contracted season raises questions: did he have to buy out his contract or repay part of the guaranteed fee? Is he still the owner of LIV team Smash GC, which has named Talor Gooch as the new captain?
Speculations abound about where Koepka will play next. On the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible, possibly subject to a penalty? Or on the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension from his last LIV appearance, after previously lifetime bans imposed by former Commissioner Jay Monahan were significantly softened? It makes sense not to be vindictive when every returning LIV player benefits the PGA Tour, which holds the longer lever. According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership after it was not renewed post-2022 and to be reinstated as a player.