First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh returning, Charley Hull launching on YouTube soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season beginning on February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will stay connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his family. This was reportedly amicably agreed upon, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. But Koepka is a competitive athlete who gets motivated and fired up by high-level competition, which he found limited in LIV. He joined the Saudi-backed tour in 2022 primarily due to injury concerns about ending his career and securing a solid retirement fund. So his skipping the final contracted season is not surprising, though questions remain regarding buyouts or guaranteed paybacks. He also remains owner of the LIV team Smash GC, which already appointed Talor Gooch as the new captain.
Speculation abounds about which fairways Koepka will soon appear on. The DP World Tour would grant him immediate playing rights—possibly subject to penalties—or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension from his last LIV appearance. However, life bans imposed by former commissioner Jay Monahan have been significantly softened. Why be vengeful when every returning LIV player, especially a high-profile one, benefits the PGA Tour, which holds the upper hand? This key question seems partly answered: according to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not extended after 2022, and regain player status.
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