First appearance at the Farmers, Vijay Singh returns, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has opted out of 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 a friendly agreement, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. However, Koepka is known as a competitive type who thrives on top-level competition, which he lacked at LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 when he feared his career was nearing its end due to injuries and sought to secure a substantial retirement fund. Thus, skipping the final contracted season is not surprising, though questions remain whether he had to buy out his contract or return part of his guaranteed earnings. He remains the owner of LIV team Smash GC, which recently appointed Talor Gooch as captain.
Speculations abound regarding where Koepka will next compete: the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible potentially with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension from his last LIV appearance, after the lifetime bans imposed by former commissioner Jay Monahan were softened. The key question seems partly answered: according to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reinstate his PGA Tour membership, which had not been renewed after 2022.