First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager to play again, Charley Hull soon launching on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season beginning February 7th in Riyadh; the five-time major champion will remain connected to the competing circuit but needs more time for family. This was a mutual agreement, according to an official statement by LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, something he experienced only partially in LIV. He originally joined LIV in 2022 due to injury concerns and to secure a substantial retirement fund. His decision to skip the final contracted season raises questions: Did he have to buy out of the contract or repay part of his guaranteed fee? Does he remain the owner of LIV team Smash GC, which named Talor Gooch as the new captain?
Speculation is rife about which fairways Koepka will next compete on—DP World Tour, where he would be eligible immediately, possibly with a penalty? Or on the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year ban since his last LIV appearance, albeit reduced from a lifetime ban previously imposed by former commissioner Jay Monahan? Why hold grudges when every returning LIV player, especially a high-profile one, benefits the more dominant PGA Tour? ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported that Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his non-renewed PGA Tour membership and rejoin the player pool.
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