First start set for the Farmers, Vijay Singh returns, and Charley Hull launches a YouTube channel. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion intends to stay connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for family, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka, known as a competitive player who thrives in top-level competition, was not fully motivated during his LIV stint. Having joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns and to secure a retirement fund, his skipping of the final contractual season is unsurprising, although questions remain regarding potential contract buyouts or partial paybacks. Koepka remains the owner of LIV’s Smash GC team, which recently appointed Talor Gooch as captain.
Speculation abounds on where Koepka will compete next: the DP World Tour, where he could likely play immediately—possibly with a penalty—or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension following his last LIV event, reduced from the initial lifetime ban imposed by former commissioner Jay Monahan. This critical question seems partially answered: ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported that Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his suspended PGA Tour membership and rejoin the players’ pool.
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