First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh ready for a comeback, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion will stay connected to the competing circuit but needs more time for his family. This was reportedly agreed upon amicably according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. But Koepka, a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, was only somewhat motivated by LIV. He joined LIV in 2022 mainly because injuries made him fear the end of his career, and he wanted to secure a good retirement fund. Therefore, skipping the last contractually obligated season is not surprising, although questions remain about potential buyouts or paybacks. Koepka remains the owner of his LIV team Smash GC, which has appointed Talor Gooch as captain.
Speculation has been rife about which tour Koepka will compete on next. The DP World Tour would allow him immediate play, possibly with a penalty? Or back to the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension following his last LIV appearance, after former commissioner Jay Monahan softened the lifetime bans? Why hold grudges when prominent LIV returnees benefit the longer-established tour? This key question seems partially answered. According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership from after 2022 and rejoin the player ranks.