First start already at the Farmers Insurance Open, Vijay Singh returns, Charley Hull launches 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion stays connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his family. This was a friendly agreement, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is a competitor who gets highly motivated and fired up only in high-level competitions, which he only partially experienced at LIV. He switched mainly in 2022 due to injury concerns and aimed to secure a solid retirement fund. So his decision to forgo the last contracted season is not surprising, although questions remain about buyouts or returning part of his guaranteed salary. He remains owner of the LIV team Smash GC, which appointed Talor Gooch as new captain.
Speculations arise about which tours Koepka will play on next: the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible possibly paying a penalty, or the PGA Tour where he faces a one-year suspension following his last LIV event, after previous lifetime bans were softened. This crucial question is partly answered: According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022, to regain his player status.
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