First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager to compete again, Charley Hull launching YouTube channel. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting on February 7 in Riyadh. The five-time major winner will remain connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for family, according to a friendly agreement reported by LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level competition and did not fully flourish in LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 due to injury concerns and to secure a solid retirement fund. His skipping of the final contracted season is not surprising, although questions about possible buyouts or partial repayments remain. It is also uncertain whether the 35-year-old remains owner of his LIV team Smash GC, which has made Talor Gooch the new captain.
Speculation grows on where Koepka will next compete: the DP World Tour, where he potentially has immediate eligibility, likely with a penalty? Or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension from his last LIV appearance, though the original lifetime bans were substantially eased. Why be vindictive when every returning LIV player aids the already dominant PGA Tour? This crucial question seems partly answered. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reports Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022.
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