5-time main champion Brooks Koepka is not going to return to LIV Golf in 2026, the league introduced Tuesday.
LIV Golf League CEO Scott O’Neill introduced in a press release that Taylor Gooch will substitute the 35-year-old Koepka as Smash GC’s captain.
“It has been amicably and mutually agreed that Brooks Koepka will not play within the LIV Golf League after the 2025 season,” O’Neal mentioned in a press release. “Brooks has prioritized the wants of his household and stayed near house. We admire his super influence on the sport and need him continued success on and off the course.”
The previous world primary signed for the Saudi-funded breakaway league in June 2022. He reportedly had one 12 months left on his contract and was value greater than $100 million.
In a press release, Koepka’s administration thanked Yasir Al-Rumayyan, President of the Saudi Public Funding Fund. O’Neill and the LIV Golf League administration staff. his teammates. And the followers.
“Brooks’ household has at all times guided his choices, and he feels now could be the correct time to spend extra time at house,” Koepka’s administration staff mentioned in a press release. “Brooks continues to be an enormous supporter of LIV Golf and desires the league and its gamers continued success. Brooks stays passionate in regards to the recreation of golf and can proceed to maintain followers up to date on the long run.”
Koepka’s spouse, Jena, introduced on social media in October that she had miscarried at 16 weeks. The couple have a 2-year-old son, Crew.
It stays unclear when Koepka shall be allowed to return to the PGA Tour if he so wishes. Former PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan suspended a golfer who performed in a LIV golf event with out releasing a conflicting occasion.
“Brooks Koepka is a extremely achieved skilled and we want him and his household each success sooner or later,” the PGA Tour mentioned in a press release. “The PGA Tour continues to offer the very best skilled golfers with essentially the most aggressive, rewarding and profitable surroundings during which to pursue greatness.”
Sources instructed ESPN that Koepka knowledgeable the PGA Tour of his plans to go away LIV Golf earlier than asserting his departure on Tuesday. If he needs to return, he should formally reapply for membership on the PGA Tour. Officers mentioned he didn’t renew his membership till the 2022-23 season.
If Koepka reapplies for membership on the PGA Tour, the tour will start a reinstatement and disciplinary course of that may embrace “considerate enter from the board of administrators, together with the participant director,” officers mentioned.
The PGA Tour doesn’t publish or touch upon disciplinary issues.
Koepka turned the primary LIV golfer to win 5 particular person competitions in August 2024 at The Greenbrier in White Sulfur Springs, West Virginia.
Nonetheless, he had a troublesome time final season, ending thirty first out of 54 gamers within the season’s particular person level rankings. Koepka completed runner-up at a event in Singapore in March, however has didn’t crack the highest 15 in his final eight matches.
Koepka didn’t qualify for 3 of the 4 majors final season. He tied for twelfth on the U.S. Open at Oakmont Nation Membership in Oakmont, Pennsylvania.
Koepka’s type has been higher in his final two of his 4 begins on the DP World Tour. He completed fourth on the Open de France in Paris and tied for fifteenth on the Alfred Dunhill Hyperlinks Championship at Carnoustie Golf Hyperlinks in Scotland.
If Koepka doesn’t return to the PGA Tour subsequent season, he’ll nonetheless be eligible to play within the 4 majors because of a five-year exemption if he wins the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill Nation Membership in Rochester, New York.
“I need to begin by thanking Brooks,” Gooch mentioned in a press release. “He is likely one of the best opponents on this recreation and I realized loads from him whereas I used to be his teammate at Smash GC. He’s a buddy and teammate and I’ve nice respect for his choices. I want him and Jena and their household the very best.”
