First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh aims for a comeback, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn for the 2026 LIV season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the competing circuit but needs more time for family. This was the amicable agreement according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. But Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, something LIV rarely provided. He switched to LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns about ending his career soon and to secure a good retirement fund. Therefore, foregoing the last contracted season is not surprising, though questions remain, such as if he had to buy out or refund part of his guaranteed pay. He still owns his LIV team Smash GC, which has appointed Talor Gooch as captain.
Speculations arise about which tours Koepka will join next. He is immediately eligible for the DP World Tour, possibly paying a penalty? Or the PGA Tour where he must serve a one-year suspension after his last LIV event due to softened lifetime bans originally imposed by former commissioner Jay Monahan? Allowing prominent LIV returnees benefits the PGA Tour, which holds more leverage. According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership and rejoin the players’ pool after not renewing after 2022.