First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager to compete again, Charley Hull to launch YouTube channel soon. 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 champion will remain connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his family. This was a mutual, amicable decision according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s statement. However, Koepka is a competitive type who thrives on high-level tournaments, something LIV lacked for him. He originally joined LIV in 2022 mainly because of injury concerns and to secure a solid retirement fund. Thus, skipping the final contracted season is unsurprising though questions remain about a buyout or repayment of guaranteed money. He still owns the LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculations abound about which fairways Koepka will appear on next—DP World Tour where he would be immediately eligible, maybe with a penalty, or the PGA Tour where he faces a one-year suspension after last LIV appearance, reduced from lifetime bans initially imposed by former commissioner Jay Monahan. It appears the key question has been partly answered: According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership not extended after 2022 to rejoin the player field.