First start already at the Farmers Insurance Open, Vijay Singh ready to compete again, Charley Hull launching on YouTube soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh. The five-time major champion will stay connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his family. This was reportedly a friendly agreement, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, something he found limited at LIV. He had joined LIV in 2022 mainly to secure his financial future due to injury concerns about his career. Skipping the final contractual season is unsurprising, though questions remain about whether he had to buy out his contract or return some guaranteed money. It is also unclear if the 35-year-old remains an owner of his LIV team Smash GC, which has appointed Talor Gooch as its new captain.
Speculation revolves around where Koepka will play next. He is eligible immediately on the DP World Tour—possibly with a penalty—or could return to the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension following his last LIV event, after former commissioner Jay Monahan reduced the lifetime bans substantially. It seems sensible to not be vindictive, especially since each LIV returnee strengthens the longer-established tour. According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which he had not renewed after 2022, seeking reinstatement among PGA players.