First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh returns, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
It was expected: Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will stay connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his family. This was reportedly agreed amicably, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level contests, something he found limited at LIV Golf. Having joined LIV in 2022 mainly because he feared his career might end due to injuries and wanted a solid retirement fund, skipping the final contracted season is not surprising, though questions remain whether he had to pay to exit or return part of his guaranteed earnings. He remains the owner of the LIV team Smash GC, which has appointed Talor Gooch as its new captain.
Speculation surrounds where Koepka will play next. He would be immediately eligible on the DP World Tour, possibly with a penalty payment, or on the PGA Tour where he faces a one-year suspension after his last LIV event, following the significant reduction of former Commissioner Jay Monahan’s lifetime bans. It seems a pragmatic choice, as every returning LIV player, especially a high-profile one, benefits the more powerful PGA Tour. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022, hoping to rejoin the playing field.