First start already at Farmers, Vijay Singh ready to compete again, Charley Hull launching YouTube channel 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion stays connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time. This was reportedly agreed upon amicably, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is a competitor motivated by top-level contests, which LIV provided only limitedly. He joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns possibly ending his career and to secure a good retirement fund. Given this, it’s no surprise he skipped the final contracted season, though questions remain about whether he had to pay a buyout or return part of his guaranteed fee. Still, he remains owner of LIV team Smash GC, which has already named Talor Gooch as captain.
Speculation now surrounds which tours Koepka will play on next. The DP World Tour would grant immediate eligibility, probably with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension since his last LIV appearance, after former commissioner Jay Monahan softened lifetime bans. Instead of retaliation, allowing prominent LIV returnees supports the powerful PGA Tour. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reports Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which had lapsed after 2022.
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