First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh returning, Charley Hull launching on YouTube soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion intends to stay connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time. LIV CEO Scott McNeil confirmed this amicable agreement. However, Koepka, known as a competitive fighter who thrives on top-level competition, has been less engaged at LIV. Initially, he had joined LIV in 2022 believing his career was ending due to injury, aiming to secure a solid retirement fund. Thus, skipping the last contractual playing season is not surprising, though questions remain about potential buyouts or paybacks. Koepka also remains an owner of the LIV team Smash GC, with Talor Gooch now captain.
Speculation abounds regarding which tours Koepka will play on next: DP World Tour, where he could be immediately eligible possibly with penalties, or PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension following his last LIV event. Lifetime bans imposed by former commissioner Jay Monahan have been significantly softened. Logically, the PGA Tour benefits from allowing prominent LIV returnees like Koepka back. According to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which had lapsed post-2022, seeking readmission to the player pool.