First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh back in action, Charley Hull launching a YouTube channel 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for family. LIV CEO Scott McNeil stated that this was a friendly agreement. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level sporting challenges, which he found limited in LIV. He switched to LIV in 2022 mainly because of injury concerns threatening his career and to secure a solid retirement fund. Hence, opting out of the final contracted season is no surprise, though questions linger. Did he buy out his contract or repay part of his guaranteed salary? Is he still the owner of the LIV team Smash GC, which appointed Talor Gooch as captain?
Speculation is rife about where Koepka will play next: the DP World Tour, where immediate eligibility is possible—probably with a penalty? Or back to the PGA Tour, where he would serve a one-year suspension following his last LIV start, after former commissioner Jay Monahan’s life bans were significantly softened? It makes sense not to be vindictive since every LIV returnee, especially a high-profile one, benefits the well-established tour. This key question seems partly answered. According to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022, to rejoin the players’ ranks.