First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh eager to compete again, Charley Hull launching a YouTube channel soon. 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will remain connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his family. This amicable agreement was announced by LIV CEO Scott McNeil. However, many question the true reasons. Koepka is a highly competitive athlete who thrives on top-level competition, which he showed limited motivation for in LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns derailing his career and to secure a substantial retirement fund. His skipping the last contractual season thus raises some questions regarding buyouts and his ownership of Smash GC, where Talor Gooch is now the captain.
Speculations abound on which tours Koepka will appear next. He would be immediately eligible for the DP World Tour, possibly with a penalty, or on the PGA Tour, where he must serve a one-year suspension after his last LIV event, a suspension that was significantly softened from a lifetime ban imposed by former Commissioner Jay Monahan. The question of how to handle LIV returnees now seems partly answered. According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reinstate his PGA Tour membership, which lapsed after 2022, seeking readmission to the player ranks.