First start already at the Farmers; Vijay Singh returns; Charley Hull heads to YouTube. The Back Nine.
It was expected: Brooks Koepka has officially opted out of 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’s official statement. Koepka, known as a fierce competitor who thrives in high-level competition, was less motivated playing in LIV Golf. His initial move to the Saudi-funded league in 2022 came as he doubted the future of his career due to injury and sought a good retirement fund. Therefore, skipping the last contractually obligated season is hardly surprising, though questions linger about possible buyout payments or partial rebates on his guaranteed salary. Koepka also remains the owner of LIV team Smash GC, which has appointed Talor Gooch as the new captain.
Speculation is rife about where Koepka will compete next. The DP World Tour could reinstate his eligibility immediately—possibly with a penalty—or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension following his final LIV event, after previous lifetime bans imposed by former commissioner Jay Monahan were drastically softened. Why enact vengeance when every returning LIV player, especially a prominent one, bolsters the tour already holding the upper hand? This key question now has a partial answer: According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not extended after 2022, and to be readmitted to the playing field.