First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh ready to compete again, Charley Hull launching on YouTube soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the LIV Golf League season 2026, which begins on February 7 in Riyadh. The five-time major winner will remain connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for family, according to a friendly agreement stated by LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka, known as a competitor who thrives in high-level tournaments, was less motivated by LIV events. In 2022, he joined LIV mainly due to injury concerns threatening his career and to secure a comfortable retirement fund. His waiver of the last contractual playing year raises questions, including whether he had to buy out or return part of his guaranteed pay, and if he remains the owner of his LIV team Smash GC, which recently appointed Talor Gooch as captain.
Speculation arises about where Koepka will play next. The DP World Tour could grant him immediate eligibility, possibly with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension after his last LIV event, a suspension that was significantly softened from lifetime bans previously imposed by former Commissioner Jay Monahan. Returning players like Koepka, a prominent figure, ultimately benefit the PGA Tour, which holds the upper hand. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported that Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which had not been renewed after 2022.