First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh aiming for a comeback, Charley Hull launching on YouTube soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season, which begins on February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will remain connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for family. This was the amicable agreement, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. But Koepka is a competitor who thrives in top-level competition—and he showed limited motivation at LIV. He originally joined LIV in 2022 mainly because injury threatened to end his career early and he wanted to secure a solid retirement fund. So giving up the final contract year is not surprising, though questions remain: Did he have to buy himself out or repay part of his guaranteed salary? Will the 35-year-old remain owner of his LIV team Smash GC, which recently named Talor Gooch as captain?
Speculation now focuses on which fairways Koepka will appear on next. The DP World Tour could allow him to play immediately—likely after a penalty payment—or the PGA Tour, where he must serve a one-year suspension since his last LIV event, following the significant reduction of previous lifetime bans imposed by ex-Commissioner Jay Monahan. Why be vindictive when every returning LIV player, especially a prominent name, benefits the already stronger PGA Tour? This crucial question seems partly answered. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported that Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which expired after 2022, and to be readmitted to the player ranks.