First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager to compete again, Charley Hull launching a YouTube channel soon. 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh.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 intends to remain connected to the competing circuit but needs more time for his family. This was agreed upon amicably, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s statement. However, Koepka is known as a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, which he found lacking at LIV. He originally joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns jeopardizing his career and to secure a solid retirement fund. Therefore, skipping the final contracted season is not surprising, although questions remain whether he had to buy out part of his guaranteed pay or remains an owner of Smash GC, whose new captain is Talor Gooch.
Speculation grows about where Koepka will next compete. He could play on the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible, possibly for a penalty fee, or return to the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension after his last LIV appearance, following a significant reduction of the lifetime bans initially imposed by former commissioner Jay Monahan. There is no sense in retaliation if every prominent LIV returnee benefits the longer-established PGA Tour. This crucial question appears partially answered: ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported that Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which had not been renewed after 2022.