First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager to compete again, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his family. This was mutually agreed upon, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka, being a competitive type who thrives in high-level competition, found limited motivation at LIV. He switched mainly in 2022 due to injury concerns and to secure a solid retirement fund. The waiver of his final contracted season raises questions: did he buy out his contract or repay part of his guaranteed salary? Is he still the owner of LIV team Smash GC, which named Talor Gooch as the new captain?
Speculation is rife about which fairways Koepka will soon play on. Possibly the DP World Tour, where he’d be eligible immediately—perhaps with a penalty? Or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension based on his last LIV participation, after the lifetime bans imposed by former commissioner Jay Monahan were significantly eased? Why hold grudges when prominent LIV returnees benefit the established tour? ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported that Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which lapsed after 2022, to rejoin the playing field.
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