First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh makes a comeback, Charley Hull set for 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As expected: Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time. This was a friendly agreement, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. However, Koepka is a competitor who thrives in high-level contest environments, something he found limited at LIV. He had joined LIV in 2022 primarily due to injury concerns threatening his career and to secure a substantial retirement fund. Thus, skipping the last contractual season is not surprising, though questions remain about possible buyouts or repayment of guaranteed money. Koepka still owns the LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation intensifies about where Koepka will next compete: the DP World Tour, where he may be eligible immediately possibly with a fine, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension from his last LIV event after previous lifetime bans were reduced. Why be vindictive when every LIV returnee, especially a star, benefits the established tour? According to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022.