First start at the Farmers, Vijay Singh returns, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the competing circuit but needs more family time. This was mutually agreed upon, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka, known as a fierce competitor who thrives in high-level competition, lacked full motivation at LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns threatening his career and a desire to secure a comfortable retirement fund. Given this, foregoing the final contractual season is not surprising, though questions remain whether he had to buy out or repay part of his guaranteed salary or if he remains owner of his LIV team Smash GC, which has already appointed Talor Gooch as captain.
Speculation focuses on which tours Koepka will join next. He would be immediately eligible to play on the DP World Tour, possibly after a penalty fee, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension since his last LIV event after lifetime bans by former Commissioner Jay Monahan were reduced significantly. It makes strategic sense not to hold grudges, as every returning LIV player, especially a prominent one, benefits the established PGA Tour. According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership and rejoin the playing field after not renewing post-2022.