First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh wants to compete again, Charley Hull to launch on YouTube soon. The Back Nine.
Expected: Brooks Koepka has officially opted out of the 2026 LIV Golf League season, starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the competing circuit but needs more time for his family. This was mutually agreed upon, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka, known as a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, found the LIV setup less motivating. He initially joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns and to secure retirement earnings. Hence, his waiver of the last contractual season is unsurprising, though questions remain whether he had to buy out his contract or refund part of his guaranteed payment. Despite this, he remains the owner of LIV team Smash GC, which has appointed Talor Gooch as captain.
Speculation is alive about where Koepka will next compete: the DP World Tour, where he would immediately be eligible, possibly after a fine? Or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension from his last LIV participation but the lifetime bans imposed by former commissioner Jay Monahan have been significantly softened? There’s no point in holding grudges when LIV returnees, especially prominent ones, strengthen the rival tour. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported that last Friday Koepka formally applied to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which lapsed after 2022, seeking readmission to the player membership.