First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager to compete again, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected: Brooks Koepka has officially opted out of the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion stays connected with the rival circuit but needs more time for family. This was a friendly agreement, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s statement. Koepka is a competitive type who thrives on high-level competition, which he only partly found at LIV. He originally joined LIV in 2022 mainly because injury had threatened to end his career early and he sought a substantial retirement fund. So his skipping the last contractual season is not surprising, though questions remain. Did he have to buy out or repay part of his guaranteed salary? Does he remain owner of his LIV team Smash GC, which has appointed Talor Gooch as its new captain?
Speculation now revolves around where Koepka will next play. On the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible—possibly paying a penalty? Or on the PGA Tour, where he would have served a one-year ban since his last LIV event after the former commissioner Jay Monahan reduced lifetime bans? Why harbor resentment when any returning LIV player, especially a high-profile one, benefits the stronger Tour? This crucial question seems partly answered. According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally submitted an application last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not extended after 2022, and to be reinstated as a player.
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