First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh returning, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. 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As expected: Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will remain connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time. This was reportedly amicably agreed upon, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is a competitor who thrives in high-level competition, which he only partially experienced with LIV. He moved primarily in 2022 to the Saudi-backed league fearing his career was nearing an end due to injuries, aiming to secure a solid retirement fund. Thus, skipping the final contracted season is unsurprising, though questions remain whether he had to buy out or repay part of his guaranteed salary. He remains an owner of LIV team Smash GC, which named Talor Gooch as new captain.
Speculation thrives about where Koepka will next appear. On the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible, possibly after a penalty? Or on the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension from his last LIV event, after previously imposed lifetime bans by former Commissioner Jay Monahan were significantly softened? Why be vindictive when every high-profile LIV returnee benefits the PGA Tour that holds the upper hand? This key question found partial answers when, according to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which lapsed after 2022, aiming to regain full player status.