First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh returning, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting on February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his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 is a competitor who thrives on top-level competition and rarely reached that motivation with LIV. He originally joined LIV in 2022 mainly because of injuries that threatened to end his career and to secure a substantial retirement fund. Hence, skipping the final contractual season is not surprising, although questions remain about buyout or salary repayments. He remains owner of the LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation is rife about where Koepka will play next — the DP World Tour, where he could play immediately, possibly with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension from his last LIV appearance. This suspension was softened from an initial lifetime ban imposed by former Commissioner Jay Monahan. Why be vindictive when returning LIV players, especially prominent ones, benefit the dominant PGA Tour? 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 player pool.