First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh returns, and Charley Hull is soon launching 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will remain connected to the rival circuit but needs more time with his family. This was reportedly agreed upon amicably, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka, a competitive type, usually gets motivated only through high-level competition, which he somewhat missed at LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 mainly for financial reasons due to injury concerns about his career, aiming for a solid retirement fund. Given this context, skipping the last contractual season is less surprising, though questions remain about possible buyouts or repayments. He remains the owner of his LIV team Smash GC, which has appointed Talor Gooch as the new captain.
Speculation is rife about where Koepka will next appear. The DP World Tour would grant him immediate playing rights, possibly with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension since his last LIV event, after previously lifetime bans were softened. It seems the key question is partly resolved; ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reported Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which lapsed after 2022, seeking readmission to the playing group.
See this post on Instagram