First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh back in action, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. But Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level competition and has been less motivated in LIV. He originally joined LIV in 2022 mainly because of injuries that made him consider ending his career, wanting to secure a solid retirement fund. Thus, skipping the last contractual playing season is not surprising, though questions remain about potential buyouts or partial salary repayments. He still owns his LIV team Smash GC, which named Talor Gooch as new captain.
Speculation swirls about which tours Koepka will appear on next: the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible, possibly with a penalty; or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension after his last LIV event, following a significant reduction in lifetime bans by former Commissioner Jay Monahan. Why be vindictive when every LIV returnee ultimately benefits the incumbent tour, which holds the upper hand? This question now partly answered: ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported Koepka formally applied last Friday to reinstate his PGA Tour membership, which had lapsed post-2022, seeking readmission to the player roster.