First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager to compete again, Charley Hull launching on 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will remain connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his family. This was reportedly a friendly agreement, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. However, Koepka is known as a competitive type who thrives on high-level competition, something LIV provided only to a limited extent. He originally moved to LIV in 2022 due to injury concerns and to secure a solid retirement fund. Therefore, skipping the last contractually required season is not surprising, though questions remain about financial details and his continued ownership of LIV’s Smash GC team, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation abounds regarding where Koepka will play next. Will he join the DP World Tour immediately, possibly with a penalty? Or return to the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension after his last LIV appearance, though initial lifetime bans by former commissioner Jay Monahan have been significantly softened? The PGA Tour benefits from high-profile LIV returnees, and recent reports from ESPN’s Mark Schlabach indicate Koepka formally applied last Friday to reinstate his PGA Tour membership and rejoin the playing field.