First start at the Farmers, Vijay Singh returns, Charley Hull to launch YouTube soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season, which begins on February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time. This was amicably agreed upon, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level competition and gets fired up, something he found limited at LIV. He joined LIV in 2022 primarily due to injuries that made him consider ending his career, also ensuring a solid retirement fund. His skipping the final contracted season isn’t surprising though questions remain: did he have to buy out, repay a part of the guaranteed salary? Is the 35-year-old still an owner of his LIV team Smash GC, which recently appointed Talor Gooch as captain?
Speculation grows on which fairways Koepka will appear next. DP World Tour allows immediate eligibility, possibly with a penalty? Or PGA Tour, where he must serve a one-year suspension after his last LIV event, following the drastic reduction of lifetime bans imposed by former commissioner Jay Monahan? Forgiveness seems sensible, as every returning LIV player benefits the established Tour, already holding more leverage. ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reports Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which expired after 2022, to rejoin the player ranks.