First start at the Farmers, Vijay Singh back in action, 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time. This was a friendly agreement, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka, known as a competitive athlete who thrives on top-level contests, found limited motivation at LIV. He originally switched in 2022 due to injury concerns and to secure a solid retirement fund. Thus, skipping the final contractual season is unsurprising, though questions remain: Did he buy out his contract or repay part of his guaranteed salary? Is the 35-year-old still owner of LIV team Smash GC, which recently appointed Talor Gooch as captain?
Speculation swirls about Koepka’s next fairways. The DP World Tour would likely grant immediate eligibility, possibly with a penalty. On the PGA Tour, however, he faces a one-year suspension after his last LIV appearance, though previous lifetime bans imposed by then-Commissioner Jay Monahan were significantly softened. Why be vindictive when every LIV returnee, especially a star like Koepka, strengthens the longer-established tour? This question seems partly answered: ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reported Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which had expired post-2022.