First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh ready to compete again, Charley Hull launching on YouTube soon. The Back Nine.
Expected: Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will remain connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his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 on high-level competition, which he found limited at LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 primarily due to injury concerns about ending his career and to secure a comfortable retirement fund. Given this, his decision to skip the final contracted season is not surprising, though questions remain about potential buyouts or paybacks. Despite this, he remains the owner of the LIV team Smash GC, which has appointed Talor Gooch as the new captain.
Speculations bloom on where Koepka will play next: the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible, possibly with a penalty? Or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension from his last LIV appearance. The lifetime bans imposed by former Commissioner Jay Monahan have been significantly softened. Why be vindictive when every LIV returnee strengthens the already dominant tour? This question seems partially answered. ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reported that Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which had not been renewed after 2022.