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As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for family. According to LIV CEO Scott McNeil, this was a friendly agreement. However, Koepka is known as a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, which he found limited in LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 due to injury concerns threatening his career and to secure a solid retirement fund. His decision to skip the final contractual season raises questions: did he buy out his contract or repay part of his guaranteed salary? He remains owner of the LIV team Smash GC, with Talor Gooch as the new captain.
Speculation abounds about where Koepka will next compete: 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 from his last LIV appearance, since former commissioner Jay Monahan reduced lifetime bans. Rather than being vengeful, the PGA Tour seems to welcome returning LIV players, especially high-profile ones. Confirming this, ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported that Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership after leaving in 2022.
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