First start at the Farmers, Vijay Singh is back, Charley Hull goes 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion will stay connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his family. This friendly agreement was officially stated by LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on top-level contests, which he found limited in LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 due to injury concerns and to secure a good retirement fund. The decision to forgo his final contract year raises questions: did he have to buy out the contract or refund part of his guaranteed salary? Does the 35-year-old remain an owner of LIV team Smash GC, which has appointed Talor Gooch as new captain?
Speculation abounds about which fairways Koepka will soon play on. The DP World Tour would allow immediate play, perhaps with a penalty? Or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension after his last LIV event, following a significant easing of the former Commissioner Jay Monahan’s lifetime bans? Given the circumstances, why hold grudges, especially when every returning LIV player benefits the stronger Tour. This question seems partly answered now. ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reported Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which had not been renewed after 2022, to reinstate his player status.