First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager to compete again, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion will remain connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his family. This was reportedly agreed upon amicably, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is a competitor who thrives in high-level competition and appears to have lacked motivation while on LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns and to secure a substantial retirement income. Thus, skipping the last contractually obligated season is not surprising, although questions remain about possible buyouts or refunding guaranteed payments. It is also unclear if the 35-year-old remains the owner of his LIV team Smash GC, which has appointed Talor Gooch as its new captain.
Speculation swirls about which tours Koepka will join next. The DP World Tour could immediately grant him playing rights, potentially with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension since his last LIV event, after previous lifetime bans by former Commissioner Jay Monahan were significantly softened. It seems welcomed for the PGA Tour to receive former LIV players back, especially high-profile ones. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reports that Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which had not been renewed after 2022, seeking reinstatement.