First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh aims for a comeback, Charley Hull launching on YouTube soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion will remain connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his family. This was reportedly agreed amicably, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is a competitor who thrives in top-level competitive settings, something he found limited with LIV Golf. When he switched to the Saudi-backed league in 2022, it was mainly due to injury concerns threatening his career and a desire to secure a retirement fund. Therefore, his decision to forgo the last contractual season is unsurprising, though questions remain about potential buyouts or partial paybacks. It also remains unclear if the 35-year-old still owns his LIV team Smash GC, which has appointed Talor Gooch as captain.
Speculation abounds regarding which tour Koepka will appear on next. The DP World Tour grants him immediate playing rights, possibly with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension from his last LIV appearance, after previously imposed lifetime bans by former Commissioner Jay Monahan were significantly reduced. There’s no point in vindictiveness when every returning LIV player benefits the longer-established tour. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported that Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which had lapsed after 2022, aiming to rejoin the playing field.