First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh aiming for a comeback, and Charley Hull launching on YouTube soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting on February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion will stay connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for family. This was a mutual agreement, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. However, Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, which he found limited in LIV. In 2022, he moved to LIV chiefly because of injury concerns and to secure a solid financial retirement fund. Hence, skipping the last contractual season is not surprising, though questions remain about buyouts or refunds. He remains owner of LIV team Smash GC, with Talor Gooch newly appointed captain.
Most speculation revolves around where Koepka will next compete — on the DP World Tour, likely with immediate eligibility perhaps against a penalty; or on the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension after his last LIV start due to softened lifetime bans previously imposed by former commissioner Jay Monahan. Why hold grudges when high-profile LIV returnees benefit the PGA Tour? ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reported Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022, seeking reinstatement.
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