First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh is back in action, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his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 is a competitive player who thrives on high-level competition, something he found only limitedly at LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 mainly because injuries made him consider early retirement and sought to secure a solid retirement fund. Thus, his waiver of the last contractually obligated season is unsurprising though questions remain, such as whether he had to buy out or repay part of his guaranteed salary, and if he remains an owner of his LIV team Smash GC, which has already appointed Talor Gooch as new captain.
Speculation is rampant about where Koepka will play next: the DP World Tour, where he would immediately be eligible albeit possibly with penalty? Or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension following his last LIV appearance – a suspension that was considerably reduced from prior lifetime bans imposed by former Commissioner Jay Monahan? Such a vindictive stance seems unnecessary given that every LIV returnee benefits the PGA Tour, which already holds the upper hand. This key question seems partially answered. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported that Koepka formalized his application last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership not extended after 2022 and to be readmitted to the player pool.