First start at the Farmers, Vijay Singh returns, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially opted out of the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains connected to the competitor circuit but needs more family time. This was mutually agreed upon, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. However, Koepka is a competitive type who thrives on high-level competition, which LIV offered only limited motivation. In 2022, he mainly joined LIV due to injuries threatening his career’s end and to secure a solid retirement fund. Given this context, skipping the last contractual season is unsurprising, though questions remain about buyout terms or guarantees returned. The 35-year-old is still the owner of LIV team Smash GC, with Talor Gooch now captain.
Speculation swirls about where Koepka will next appear. The DP World Tour would grant immediate playing rights, possibly with a penalty, while the PGA Tour would require him to serve a one-year suspension following his last LIV appearance, after previously imposed lifetime bans by former commissioner Jay Monahan were softened. It seems reasonable not to be vindictive toward returning LIV players, especially prominent ones who strengthen PGA Tour’s hand. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported that Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022, to rejoin the player pool.