First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager to return, Charley Hull launching on YouTube soon. The Back Nine.
It was expected: Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for family. This was reportedly agreed upon amicably, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. However, Koepka is a competitive type who thrives on top-level competition, which he experienced only to a limited degree in LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns ending his career early and to secure a good retirement fund. Thus, skipping his last contracted season is not surprising, though questions remain whether he had to buy out or repay part of his guaranteed salary. He also remains the owner of LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation is rife about which fairways Koepka will appear on next—DP World Tour, where he could play immediately, possibly with a penalty, or PGA Tour, where a one-year suspension from his last LIV event would apply after previous lifetime bans were significantly reduced. Why act vengefully when returning LIV players benefit the dominant Tour? This key question seems partly answered: According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which wasn’t extended beyond 2022, aiming to rejoin the players’ circle.