First start at the Farmers, Vijay Singh returns, Charley Hull to join YouTube soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season, which begins on February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion will remain connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his family. According to LIV CEO Scott McNeil, this was a friendly agreement. Koepka is a competitive type who thrives on high-level sports challenges. His motivation at LIV was limited. He switched to Saudi in 2022 mainly because he thought his career was ending due to injuries and wanted to secure a good retirement fund. It is therefore unsurprising he forgoes his last contractual season, though questions remain whether he had to buy out or return part of his guaranteed pay. He remains the owner of LIV team Smash GC, which recently appointed Talor Gooch as captain.
Speculation is rife about which fairways Koepka will appear on next. The DP World Tour would grant him immediate playing rights, possibly with a penalty, or the PGA Tour where he faces a one-year suspension since his last LIV appearance, after initial lifetime bans by former Commissioner Jay Monahan were softened. It makes little sense to be vindictive when every LIV returnee, especially a prominent one, benefits the tour with greater leverage. This major question seems partially answered. According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022, and to be reinstated as a player.