First start already at the Farmers; Vijay Singh wants to compete again; Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has opted out of the 2026 LIV Golf season, which starts on February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will remain connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for family. This was reportedly agreed upon amicably, according to an official statement from LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is known as a competitive type who gets highly motivated and fired up during high-level sports competitions, something that LIV hasn’t fully provided for him. He joined LIV in 2022 mainly because he feared an early end to his career due to injuries and wanted a substantial retirement fund. His decision to skip the final contracted season isn’t entirely surprising, though questions remain about whether he had to buy out his contract or return part of his guaranteed salary. It is also unclear if the 35-year-old remains an owner of his LIV team Smash GC, which has appointed Talor Gooch as the new captain.
Speculation is rife about which fairways Koepka will appear on next. He would be immediately eligible to play on the DP World Tour, possibly with a penalty, or on the PGA Tour, where he would have to serve a one-year suspension following his last LIV appearance, after previously imposed lifetime bans by former commissioner Jay Monahan were significantly softened. Why hold grudges when every returning LIV player, especially a star like Koepka, benefits the already dominant PGA Tour? This crucial question seems partly answered. According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022, seeking to be reinstated as a tour player.
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