First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh returns, Charley Hull launching on YouTube soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for family. This was reportedly agreed upon amicably, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. However, Koepka is known as a competitor who gets motivated and fired up only by high-level competition, something he showed only to a limited extent at LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 mainly because of injuries that threatened his career end and to secure a substantial retirement fund. Thus, skipping the final contractual season is not surprising, though questions remain. Did he have to buy out his contract or refund part of his guaranteed fee? Does the 35-year-old remain an owner of his LIV team Smash GC, which has already appointed Talor Gooch as the new captain?
Speculation is rife about which fairways Koepka will soon appear on—immediately eligible for the DP World Tour, possibly with a penalty, or on the PGA Tour where he faces a one-year suspension following his last LIV appearance, after lifetime bans by former commissioner Jay Monahan were significantly softened. The key question seems partly answered: ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported that Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022, to regain playing status.
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