First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh ready for a comeback, Charley Hull heading to YouTube soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf League season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will remain connected to the competing circuit but needs more time for family. This was agreed amicably, according to official statement from LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level challenges and gets fired up during top competition, which he found limited in LIV. He originally joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns and to secure a solid retirement fund. Thus, opting out of the final contractual season is not surprising, although questions remain — did he have to buy out or refund part of his guaranteed salary? Does the 35-year-old remain owner of his LIV team Smash GC, which has named Talor Gooch as captain?
Speculation rises on which fairways Koepka will appear next — the DP World Tour where he would be immediately eligible, possibly at a penalty cost? Or the PGA Tour, where he would serve a one-year suspension since his last LIV start after life bans by former commissioner Jay Monahan were significantly softened? The key question: why be vindictive when every LIV returnee, especially a prominent one like Koepka, benefits the long-established PGA Tour wielding greater influence. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported that Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which he hadn’t renewed after 2022, seeking reentry to the player ranks.