First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh is back, and Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially opted out of the 2026 LIV Golf season beginning February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion will remain connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for family. This was a mutually friendly agreement, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is known as a competitive type who gets highly motivated and fired up only in top-level competitions, which he barely found in LIV. He had initially joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury doubts about his career longevity and to secure retirement money. Therefore, skipping the last contractually required season does not surprise, though questions remain whether he had to buy out his contract or repay guaranteed money. Does the 35-year-old still own his LIV team Smash GC, which has named Talor Gooch as new captain?
Speculation is rife about which fairways Koepka will play next. On the DP World Tour, he would be immediately eligible, probably against a fine? Or on the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension after his last LIV appearance, following the substantial easing of previous lifetime bans imposed by former commissioner Jay Monahan? Why be vindictive when every LIV returnee, especially a prominent name, plays into the hands of the stronger PGA Tour? This key question seems partially answered: according to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not extended after 2022, to be reinstated as a player.