First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager for a comeback, Charley Hull launching her own YouTube channel soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season kicking off on February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner plans to remain connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for family. This amicable agreement was confirmed by LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is known as a competitor who gets highly motivated by top-level contests, something he found lacking in LIV. He joined LIV in 2022 primarily due to concerns about his career ending from injuries and to secure a solid retirement payout for personal pension funds. Therefore, skipping the last contractual year is not surprising, although questions remain whether he had to buy out of his contract or repay part of his guaranteed money. It is also unclear if the 35-year-old remains an owner of his LIV team Smash GC, which has appointed Talor Gooch as the new captain.
Speculations rise about where Koepka will soon appear on the fairways. The DP World Tour could grant him immediate playing rights, possibly subject to a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension following his last LIV event after former commissioner Jay Monahan’s lifetime bans were significantly reduced. Why be vindictive when every prominent LIV returnee benefits the tour that already holds the upper hand? This question seems partially answered. According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which had not been extended after 2022, to join the player pool again.