First start at the Farmers, Vijay Singh is coming back, Charley Hull launching on YouTube soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the LIV Golf 2026 season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion will remain connected to the competing circuit but needs more family time. This was reportedly amicably agreed upon, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, something he experienced only to a limited extent with LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 mainly to secure a solid retirement fund due to injury concerns. Thus, skipping the final contractual season is not surprising, though questions linger about potential buyouts or salary repayments. Koepka remains owner of the LIV team Smash GC, with Talor Gooch as the new captain.
Speculation now focuses on which tours Koepka will play next. The DP World Tour would reinstate his playing rights immediately, possibly with a penalty, while the PGA Tour imposes a one-year suspension which Koepka would be serving after his last LIV event. However, former commissioner Jay Monahan’s lifetime bans have been mitigated, and returning LIV players could strengthen the PGA Tour’s competitive edge. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach revealed that Koepka formally applied last Friday to reinstate his PGA Tour membership, which was not extended after 2022, seeking re-entry into the player pool.