First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh back in action, Charley Hull soon 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his family. This was agreed upon amicably, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is a competitive type who gets highly motivated and fired up during top-level tournaments, something he felt only to a limited extent at LIV. He originally joined LIV in 2022 mainly because injuries had made him foresee the premature end of his career and he wanted to secure a good retirement fund. Thus, his skipping the last contractually obligated season doesn’t come as a surprise, though questions remain. Did he have to buy out or repay part of his guaranteed salary? Does the 35-year-old remain the owner of his LIV team Smash GC, which has already named Talor Gooch as the new captain?
Speculation is swirling about which fairways Koepka will appear on next. The DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible to play – probably against a penalty? Or the PGA Tour, where he would serve a one-year suspension after his last LIV event, as the lifetime bans imposed by former commissioner Jay Monahan have been significantly softened? Why be vindictive when every LIV returnee, especially a prominent one, plays into the hands of the dominant tour? This essential question seems partially answered now. According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally submitted an application last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022, and to be reinstated as a player.