First start at the Farmers, Vijay Singh returns, Charley Hull launches on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf League season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his family. This was reportedly a friendly agreement, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is known as a competitor who gets highly motivated only in top-level contests, which was limited during his time at LIV. He joined LIV in 2022 mainly because of injuries that threatened his career and to secure a solid retirement payout. Thus, skipping the last contract season is not surprising, although questions remain: Did he have to buy out or return part of his guaranteed salary? Is he still the owner of his LIV team Smash GC, which already appointed Talor Gooch as its new captain?
Speculation grows about where Koepka will next compete. He would be immediately eligible to play on the DP World Tour, possibly with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension since his last LIV appearance, after previous lifetime bans by former Commissioner Jay Monahan were significantly softened. However, it seems this crucial question has been partly answered. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported that Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which lapsed after 2022, seeking reinstatement as a tour player.