First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh returning, Charley Hull launching YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion will remain connected to the competitor circuit but needs more family time. This was reportedly agreed upon amicably, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is a competitor who gets motivated and fired up only in top-level competitive situations, which was somewhat limited during his time at LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 due to injury concerns about ending his career early and to secure a decent retirement fund. His decision to waive the final contract year is therefore not surprising, though questions remain about potential buyouts or paybacks. He remains owner of his LIV team Smash GC, with Talor Gooch now as captain.
Speculation abounds about which fairways Koepka will next appear on — the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible, possibly with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension since his last LIV event, a ban recently softened from a lifetime ban imposed by former commissioner Jay Monahan. The essential question seems partly answered: ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported that Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022, requesting reinstatement.
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