First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager to play again, Charley Hull going YouTube 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will stay connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his family. This was agreed upon amicably, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka, a competitor by nature, thrives on high-level competition which was somewhat lacking in LIV. He switched to LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns and to secure financial stability for retirement. So his skipping the final contracted season is unsurprising, though questions remain about whether he had to buy out or return part of his guaranteed salary. Is he still owner of LIV team Smash GC, which has named Talor Gooch the new captain?
Speculation grows about where Koepka will appear next. On the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible — perhaps with a penalty? Or on the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension after his last LIV appearance (though lifetime bans have been relaxed). Why hold grudges when prominent LIV returnees ultimately strengthen the dominant PGA Tour? This question seems partly answered. According to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reinstate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022.