First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh ready for a comeback, Charley Hull launching on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially opted out of the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion will remain connected to the competing circuit but needs more time for his family. This was a mutual agreement, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is a competitive type who thrives on top-level sporting encounters, which he only partially found in LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 mainly as his career was injury-threatened, aiming to secure a substantial retirement fund. Given this, his decision to skip the final contracted season raises questions: did he have to buy out his contract or return part of the guaranteed money? Does the 35-year-old remain owner of the LIV team Smash GC, which has appointed Talor Gooch as the new captain?
Speculation is rife about where Koepka will play next – on the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible, perhaps with a penalty, or on the PGA Tour where he would need to serve a one-year suspension since his last LIV participation. Former commissioner Jay Monahan had initially imposed lifetime bans, which have since been substantially softened. Why bear grudges when every returning LIV player, especially a star like Koepka, benefits the more dominant PGA Tour? This key question now seems partly answered. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported that last Friday Koepka formally applied to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which had not been renewed post-2022, and to be reinstated as a player.