First start at the Farmers, Vijay Singh returns at 62, Charley Hull to launch YouTube channel 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh.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 champion will remain associated with the rival circuit but needs more time for his family. LIV CEO Scott McNeil announced this amicable agreement. However, Koepka is known as a competitor motivated by high-level contests, which LIV had limitedly provided. Koepka originally joined LIV in 2022, fearing his career was ending due to injury and seeking a retirement fund. His forgoing the final contractual season is not surprising, yet questions remain about possible buyouts or refunding part of his guaranteed salary. The 35-year-old still owns the LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation arises about where Koepka will compete next. He is immediately eligible for the DP World Tour, possibly with a penalty, or he might return to the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension since his last LIV event. Former life bans by Commissioner Jay Monahan were heavily eased. The PGA Tour benefits from returning LIV players, especially prominent ones. According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, last Friday Koepka formally applied to reinstate his PGA Tour membership, which was not extended after 2022, to rejoin the player pool.