First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh ready for action again, Charley Hull launching on YouTube soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season, starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will remain connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time. This amicable agreement was announced by LIV CEO Scott McNeil. However, Koepka is a competitive type who thrives in top-level rivalry — something he found less with LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 due to injury concerns nearing career end and to secure good retirement earnings. Thus, skipping his final contracted season does not surprise, though questions remain: Did he buy out his contract or refund part of his guaranteed salary? Does he remain owner of the LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch?
Speculation grows about which fairways Koepka will next appear on. The DP World Tour could allow immediate play, possibly with a penalty. Or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension from his last LIV start, since previous lifetime bans by former commissioner Jay Monahan were significantly softened. Why be vindictive when every returning LIV player, especially a star, benefits the more powerful PGA Tour? This question seems partly answered. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported last Friday Koepka formally applied to reinstate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022, to rejoin the player pool.