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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf League season starting on February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time. This was reportedly a friendly agreement according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka, known as a competitor who excels and gets motivated in high-level competition, was only moderately engaged with LIV. He primarily joined the Saudi-backed league in 2022 due to injury concerns about ending his career and to secure a substantial retirement payout. Thus, skipping the last contractually required season is not surprising, although questions remain about possible buyouts or reimbursement of guaranteed money. Koepka also remains owner of the LIV team Smash GC, which has named Talor Gooch as its new captain.
Speculation abounds about which courses Koepka will compete on next — 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 after the lifetime bans imposed by former Commissioner Jay Monahan were significantly softened? Being vindictive serves no purpose, especially since every LIV returnee, particularly a star like Koepka, benefits the well-established PGA Tour. This key question appears partially answered. According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which had not been renewed after 2022, to be readmitted into the player ranks.