First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh ready for another run, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has opted out of the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains connected to the competing circuit but needs more family time. This was reportedly agreed upon amicably, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. However, considering Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, his motivation in LIV was limited. He originally joined LIV in 2022 due to injury concerns near the end of his career and to secure a comfortable retirement fund. His forfeiting the last contractually obligated season isn’t surprising, though questions remain whether he had to buy out or return part of his guaranteed pay. He remains the owner of the LIV team Smash GC, which appointed Talor Gooch as the new captain.
Speculations abound on where Koepka will next appear: on the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible to play presumably for a penalty fee? Or on the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension since his last LIV appearance, after former commissioner Jay Monahan softened lifetime bans significantly? Why hold grudges when every returning LIV player, especially a prominent one, bolsters the PGA Tour’s position? This key question seems partially answered: ESPN reporter Mark Schlabach reported that last Friday Koepka formally applied to reinstate his PGA Tour membership, which expired after 2022, aiming for readmission to the playing field.