WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, WEST VIRGINIA – AUGUST 18: Brooks Koepka of the United States speaks during a press conference following day three of LIV Golf: Greenbrier at The Old White Course on August 18, 2024 in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images)
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Two-time U.S. Open and three-time PGA Champion Brooks Koepka is rumored to be sitting out the 2026 LIV Golf season.
In an interview with Josh Carpenter of Sports Business Journal, LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil addressed the speculation regarding Koepka’s status with the tour:
“I know you’re not going to want to hear this one, just the individual players, and this goes back to our policy, we’re just going to run it through. So, we haven’t made any announcements on players, but he is signed for 2026,” O’Neil said. (Golf Digest)
The former “Major Hunter” and PGA Tour star has been plagued by injuries and inconsistent results since moving to LIV Golf in 2022 for a reported $100 – $125 million signing bonus. Koepka’s compensation is likely contingent on fulfilling the length of his contract, which runs through the end of the 2026 LIV season. If he steps away early, he could be leaving a rumored $20 million on the table.
“I’m gonna be honest with you: I signed for the dough,” Koepka said about his LIV Golf deal. “I’m 100 percent behind that. Tomorrow I can go get in a car accident and never play golf again and my family’s taken care of… Everybody else, they go to their 9 to 5… they’re doing it because of their paycheck, and that is the same thing as us.” (GOLF.com)
ROCHESTER, NY – MAY 21: 2023 PGA Champion Brooks Koepka holds The Wanamaker Trophy after the final round of the PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club on Sunday, May 21, 2023 in Rochester, New York. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
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Since switching tours, Koepka did capture the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill, but most of his other results have been underwhelming. Battling knee issues in 2025, he has not won a LIV tournament, missed the cut in three of four majors, and withdrew from a LIV event in Dallas. He did post a strong T-12 result at this year’s U.S. Open.
According to the LIV Golf website, there have been no changes to the SMASH GC roster, and Koepka remains captain of the team, which includes Talor Gooch, Jason Kokrak, and Graeme McDowell. As captain, Koepka holds an ownership stake in the franchise, raising questions about how his equity would be handled should he leave the league.
“I’m just going to play where the best players play,” Koepka said in 2020. “Simple as. I want to play against the best.” (The Spokesman-Review)
His comments during his time with LIV Golf have echoed that sentiment, as he has been openly critical of what many consider non-competitive fields. At this time, Koepka has not commented publicly on whether he intends to stay with or depart from LIV Golf.
Golf Digest Editors. “Brooks Koepka Rumored to Sit Out 2026 LIV Golf Season: CEO Scott O’Neil Responds.” Golf Digest, 5 Dec. 2025, https://www.golfdigest.com/story/brooks-koepka-liv-golf-2026-rumors-ceo-scott-o-neil-response.
Hirsh, James Colgan. “Brooks Koepka Explains Why He Signed His Massive LIV Contract.” GOLF.com, 2022, https://golf.com/news/brooks-koepka-liv-deal/?srsltid=AfmBOoqO4_IknuzPZoWjPbNIKEifQ-PhK382cVbNTmuQDbQ5JDxzbYFC.
“Brooks Koepka: ‘I’m Going to Play Where the Best Players Play.’” The Spokesman-Review, 26 Feb. 2020, https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2020/feb/26/brooks-koepka-im-going-to-play-where-the-best-play/.
