First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager to compete again, Charley Hull soon launching on YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially opted out of the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion will stay connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for family, according to a friendly agreement announced by LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is known as a competitive athlete who thrives on top-level competition, something he found limited at LIV. Having joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns and to secure a solid retirement fund, his decision to skip the final contractual season is not surprising, although questions remain whether he had to buy out of his contract or repay part of his guaranteed salary. He remains the owner of LIV team Smash GC, which recently appointed Talor Gooch as new captain.
Speculation grows 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 must serve a one-year suspension since his last LIV event, after the lifetime bans imposed by former commissioner Jay Monahan were significantly softened. Why be vindictive when every returnee, especially a prominent one, benefits the more powerful tour? This key question seems partly answered. According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not extended after 2022, seeking readmittance to the playing field.