First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager to compete again, Charley Hull soon launching her own YouTube channel. 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his family. This, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is a competitor motivated by high-level competition, which he found limited in LIV. He originally joined LIV in 2022 largely due to injury concerns near career end and to secure a retirement fund. His skipping the final contract year raises questions whether he had to buy out or repay part of his guaranteed salary, and whether he will remain owner of his LIV team Smash GC, which already appointed Talor Gooch as the new captain.
Speculation is rife about which tour Koepka will next compete on. The DP World Tour would grant immediate eligibility, possibly with a penalty, or the PGA Tour where he faces a one-year suspension after his last LIV event, following a softened lifetime ban initially imposed by former commissioner Jay Monahan. It seems this question is partly answered: according to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which had lapsed after 2022, aiming to rejoin the players’ circle.