First start already at the Farmers; Vijay Singh eager for a comeback; Charley Hull launching a YouTube channel soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will remain connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time. This was reportedly a mutual agreement, per LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. However, Koepka is known as a competitor who thrives in high-level contests, something not fully ignited during his LIV tenure. He originally joined LIV in 2022 partly due to injury concerns threatening his career and to secure a substantial retirement fund. It is therefore not surprising he foregoes his final contracted season, though questions remain regarding buyouts or refunds. He still owns the LIV team Smash GC, with Talor Gooch as the new captain.
Speculation abounds about where Koepka will next compete. He would be immediately eligible on the DP World Tour, likely subject to a fine, or on the PGA Tour, where he must serve a one-year suspension following his last LIV appearance after previous lifetime bans imposed by ex-Commissioner Jay Monahan were softened. The significant question partly answered is that Koepka formally applied last Friday, according to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, to reactivate his PGA Tour membership and rejoin the player pool after not renewing post-2022.