First start already at the Farmers; Vijay Singh aims for another run; Charley Hull heads to YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially opted out of the 2026 LIV Golf season starting on February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains affiliated with the competing circuit but wants more time for family. This was reportedly a mutual agreement, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is known as a highly competitive player who thrives on top-level contests, something he found limited in LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 amid injury concerns and seeking a solid retirement fund. Thus, his skipping the final contracted season is not surprising, though questions remain about buyout terms or partial repayment of guaranteed payments. Koepka also retains ownership of LIV team Smash GC, with Talor Gooch appointed as the new captain.
Speculation revolves around where Koepka will play next. On the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible to compete, likely paying a penalty, or on the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension from recent LIV participation after previous lifetime bans were softened. Why retaliate when every LIV returnee benefits the PGA Tour, which holds stronger leverage? ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported that last Friday Koepka formally applied to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which had not been renewed post-2022, seeking reinstatement.