First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh returning, Charley Hull launching on YouTube soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season set to begin on February 7 in Riyadh. The five-time major winner will remain connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his family, according to the official statement by LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is a competitive type who thrives on high-level competition, something he rarely found at LIV. He joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns about his career ending and to secure a solid retirement fund. Thus, it is unsurprising he declined to play the last contracted season, although questions remain about possible buyouts or paybacks. At 35, he remains the owner of LIV team Smash GC, which named Talor Gooch the new captain.
Speculation surrounds where Koepka will compete next: the DP World Tour where he would be immediately eligible, possibly with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension from his last LIV appearance after previous lifetime bans were softened. Why be vindictive if every LIV returnee helps the more powerful PGA Tour? This critical question seems partly answered. According to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which had not been renewed after 2022, aiming to rejoin the playing field.