First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh wants to compete again, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially opted out of the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will remain connected to the competing circuit but needs more family time. This was amicably agreed upon, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. However, Koepka, known for his competitive spirit at the highest levels, only partly found motivation at LIV. He originally joined LIV in 2022 due to injury concerns about ending his career and to secure a comfortable retirement fund. Therefore, skipping the final contracted season is not surprising, although questions remain about financial settlements and his ownership of the LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation is rife about which fairways Koepka will soon appear on. The DP World Tour would grant immediate eligibility, potentially with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension from his last LIV event, following a significant reduction in formerly lifetime bans imposed by then-Commissioner Jay Monahan. It makes little sense to be vindictive when prominent LIV returnees ultimately benefit the stronger PGA Tour. This main question now partly answered, as ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reported that Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not extended after 2022.