First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh is back, 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his family. LIV CEO Scott McNeil stated this was a friendly agreement. Koepka is a competitive type who gets highly motivated and fired up only during top-level competition, which he has lacked at LIV. He had joined LIV in 2022 primarily due to injury concerns about the end of his career and to secure a good retirement fund. Giving up the last contracted season is not surprising, though questions remain whether he had to buy out or repay part of his guaranteed salary. He remains owner of LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation swirls about which fairways Koepka will next appear on. The DP World Tour, where he would immediately be eligible to play—possibly after a penalty payment? Or the PGA Tour, where he must serve a one-year suspension since his last LIV appearance, after former Commissioner Jay Monahan softened lifetime bans? Why be vengeful when every LIV returnee, especially a prominent one, benefits the already stronger Tour? This crucial question seems partly answered. According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which expired after 2022, and be reinstated as a player.