First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager to compete again, Charley Hull launching on YouTube soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has opted out of the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion will remain connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his family. This amicable arrangement is according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. However, Koepka is known as a competitive type who thrives on high-level competition, something he lacked at LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns and to secure his retirement fund, so it’s not surprising he declined his last contracted season, although questions remain about whether he had to buy out his contract or repay some guaranteed money. He still owns the LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation is rife about which tours Koepka will play on next. He is immediately eligible on the DP World Tour, possibly after a penalty payment, or on the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension since his last LIV event, with previous lifetime bans softened. Why maintain grudges when every returning LIV player benefits the better-positioned PGA Tour? This question seems partly answered: according to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reinstate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022.