First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh is back too, 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the competing circuit but needs more family time. This was an amicable decision, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. However, Koepka is known as a competitive type who thrives in high-level competition, which he found limited on LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury worries and to secure a solid retirement fund. Thus, skipping the final contractual season is not surprising, although questions linger about any buyout or repayment of guaranteed money. It is also unclear if the 35-year-old remains an owner of the LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation is rife about where Koepka will appear next: DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible possibly with a penalty, or PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension since his last LIV participation, though lifetime bans imposed by former commissioner Jay Monahan have been significantly relaxed. Why be vindictive when every LIV returnee strengthens the already dominant PGA Tour? This major question seems partially answered: ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reports that Koepka formally applied last Friday to reinstate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022.