First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh is eager to compete again, and Charley Hull is launching a YouTube channel. The Back Nine.
As expected: Brooks Koepka has officially opted out of the 2026 LIV Golf season, starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time. This friendly agreement was stated by LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, which he only partially found at LIV. He joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns affecting his career, seeking a solid retirement income. His waiver of the final contractual season raises questions—did he buy out or return part of his guaranteed salary? Is he still owner of LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch?
Speculation grows about where Koepka will compete next: the DP World Tour, where he’d be immediately eligible likely with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension since his last LIV event, though former Commissioner Jay Monahan’s lifetime bans have been softened. Why be vindictive when a returning LIV star benefits the better-positioned PGA Tour? This key question seems partly answered. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed post-2022.