First start at the Farmers, Vijay Singh returns, Charley Hull launching YouTube channel soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has opted out of the LIV Golf League season in 2026, which begins on February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will remain affiliated with the rival circuit but needs more time for family. This was mutually agreed upon, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is a competitor who gets highly motivated by top-level competition, which he rarely found at LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 after fearing his career was ending due to injury, seeking a substantial retirement fund. Thus, skipping his last contracted season is not surprising, though questions arise about whether he had to buy out or repay part of his guaranteed salary. He remains the owner of LIV team Smash GC, which has appointed Talor Gooch as the new captain.
Speculation abounds on where Koepka will play next. He is immediately eligible for the DP World Tour, possibly with a penalty, or on the PGA Tour where he must serve a one-year ban since his last LIV start, after previous lifetime bans were softened. Why hold grudges when every returning LIV player benefits the stronger PGA Tour? ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported that Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which had not been extended after 2022, and to rejoin the player ranks.