First start at the Farmers, Vijay Singh returns, Charley Hull launching a YouTube channel. 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Expected: Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the competing circuit but needs more time for family. This was amicably agreed, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on top-level challenges—something LIV did not fully provide. He joined LIV in 2022 mainly because injuries threatened to end his career early, and he saw a chance to secure a retirement fund. Thus, skipping the final contract year is not surprising, although questions remain about buyouts or refunds. Koepka, 35, still owns his LIV team Smash GC, which recently appointed Talor Gooch as captain.
Speculation grows about where Koepka will next play: the DP World Tour, where he could compete immediately, possibly with a penalty? Or the PGA Tour, where he has served a one-year suspension since his last LIV event after lifetime bans by former commissioner Jay Monahan were heavily softened? Why be retaliatory when every LIV returnee, especially a star like Koepka, plays perfectly into the hands of the PGA Tour? ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reports Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership and rejoin the playing field post-2022.
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