First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager to compete again, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time. This was amicably agreed upon, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. However, Koepka is known as a highly competitive athlete who performs best in top-level competition, something he lacked in LIV. He originally joined LIV in 2022 fearing career-ending injuries and aimed to secure a solid retirement fund. Given this, his skipping the final contract year is unsurprising, although questions remain about potential buyout or repayment of guaranteed money. It’s also unclear if he remains an owner of his LIV team Smash GC, which appointed Talor Gooch as new captain.
Speculation focuses on which tour Koepka will appear on next: the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible perhaps after paying a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension following his last LIV appearance, as lifetime bans issued by former Commissioner Jay Monahan were significantly softened. Why be vindictive when every returning LIV player benefits the PGA Tour, which holds the upper hand? This key question seems partly answered. Per ESPN reporter Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not extended after 2022, and to rejoin the player pool.