First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh is back, and Charley Hull is soon launching on YouTube. The Back Nine.
Expected: Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will remain associated with the rival circuit but needs more family time. This was amicably agreed, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is a competitor who thrives in high-level contests, something that was limited in LIV. In 2022, he joined LIV mainly due to injury concerns about his career ending and to secure a solid retirement fund. Thus, skipping the final contract year is not surprising, though questions remain about buyouts or wage repayments. He still owns his LIV team Smash GC, which has named Talor Gooch as captain.
Speculations abound about where Koepka will play next. The DP World Tour would grant immediate playing rights, possibly with a penalty, or he could return to the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension after his last LIV appearance, following eased lifetime bans originally imposed by former commissioner Jay Monahan. Why be vindictive when every LIV returnee benefits the Tour? This key question seems partly answered. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reports Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not extended after 2022, aiming to rejoin the players’ ranks.