First start at the Farmers, Vijay Singh back on the PGA Tour, Charley Hull launching a 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion will remain connected to the competing circuit but needs more family time. This was a mutually friendly agreement, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka, known as a competitive player who thrives on high-level competition, did not fully find his motivation in LIV. He originally joined LIV in 2022 primarily because of injury concerns, seeking financial security before retirement. It is thus not surprising he chose to skip the last contracted season, though questions remain about contract buyouts or partial refund of guarantees. Koepka remains owner of the LIV team Smash GC, with Talor Gooch as the new captain.
Speculation grows about which tours Koepka will compete on next. He is immediately eligible for the DP World Tour, potentially requiring a penalty payment, or on the PGA Tour where he has been under a one-year suspension since his last LIV start. The previous lifetime bans imposed by former commissioner Jay Monahan have been significantly softened. Why be vengeful when every prominent LIV returnee benefits the dominant established Tour? This key question seems partly answered: ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported that Koepka formally applied last Friday to reinstate his PGA Tour membership, which was not extended after 2022.