First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh wants another shot, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially 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, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. However, Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, something he found limited at LIV. He joined LIV in 2022 primarily because of injury concerns and the desire to secure a solid retirement fund. His decision to skip the last contracted season is therefore not surprising, though questions remain about financial settlements and whether he remains owner of LIV team Smash GC, which named Talor Gooch as new captain.
Speculation runs high on where Koepka will next play. On the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible to compete, likely with a penalty fee? Or the PGA Tour, where he currently serves a one-year suspension after his last LIV appearance, following a substantial reduction of the former commissioner’s lifetime bans? Why be vindictive when every returning LIV player, especially a high-profile one, plays into the hands of the PGA Tour, which holds more leverage? It seems this question has been partly answered. According to ESPN reporter Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally filed last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not extended after 2022, seeking reinstatement.