First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh is back, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the LIV Golf League for the 2026 season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will stay connected to the competing circuit but needs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. Koepka is a competitor who thrives in high-level competition, something LIV provided only to a limited extent. He initially joined LIV in 2022 due to injury concerns and to secure a comfortable retirement fund. Thus, skipping the last contracted season is not surprising, though questions remain about possible buyouts or salary repayments. He remains owner of the LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation grows about which fairways Koepka will appear on next: the DP World Tour—where he would be eligible to play immediately, perhaps with a penalty? Or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension following his last LIV event, a ban softened from lifetime by former commissioner Jay Monahan? Why hold grudges when every LIV returnee, especially a prominent one, benefits the stronger PGA Tour? ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported that last Friday, Koepka formally applied to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022, seeking reinstatement into the player pool.