First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh is back, Charley Hull launching on YouTube soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting on February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will remain connected to the competing circuit but needs more time for his family. This was reportedly agreed upon amicably, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. However, Koepka is a competitive type who thrives on high-level sports challenges, which he experienced only partly at LIV. He switched in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns about ending his career and to secure a good retirement fund. Thus, skipping the last contractually required season is not surprising, although questions remain whether he had to buy out or repay part of his guaranteed salary. Does he remain an owner of his LIV team Smash GC, which has already appointed Talor Gooch as new captain?
Speculation abounds on where Koepka will next tee off — the DP World Tour, where he would be eligible to play immediately, possibly with a penalty payment? Or the PGA Tour, where he must serve a one-year suspension from his last LIV appearance after previous lifetime bans were significantly softened? Avoiding vindictiveness helps since every LIV returnee, especially a prominent one like Koepka, benefits the stronger Tour. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported that last Friday Koepka formally applied to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, terminated after 2022, and rejoin the player ranks.