First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh returns, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the LIV Golf League for the 2026 season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will stay connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his family. This amicable agreement was stated officially by LIV-CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is known as a competitor who is highly motivated and heats up only during top-level sports contests, which was somewhat limited during his time in LIV. In 2022, he mainly joined LIV due to injury concerns about ending his career and to secure a good retirement payout. Given that, his skipping the last contractually obligated season is not surprising, although questions remain whether he had to buy out or repay part of the guaranteed salary. He also remains owner of his LIV team Smash GC, which recently appointed Talor Gooch as captain.
Speculation abounds about where Koepka will play 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 since his last LIV event. The lifetime bans imposed by former commissioner Jay Monahan have been significantly softened. Why hold grudges when each LIV returnee, especially a star like Koepka, benefits the longer-established tours? This key question has been partly answered. According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022, to regain playing rights.