Brooks Koepka could be looking to leave LIV Golf, according to reports

Has Brooks Koepka played his last round for LIV Golf?

Recent reports suggested the Jupiter resident is looking for a way out of the Saudi-backed league even before his contract expires after the 2026 season, which could mean forfeiting about $20 million.

Sports Business Journal reported Koepka may walk away from LIV but remain eligible to play on the DP World Tour.

LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil was asked about Koepka and said the league has made no “announcements on players” but Koepka “is signed for 2026.”

Koepka, the five-time major champion, signed with LIV during its inaugural 2022 season for a reported $125 million. Since, he has won about $40 million on the tour but his game has slipped dramatically.

Koepka, 35, just completed his first winless season on LIV and was 30th or worse in seven of the 13 events he finished. For the first time in his career, he missed the cut in three of the four majors — Masters, PGA Championship, British Open.

May 28, 2023; Potomac Falls, Virginia, USA; Brooks Koepka watches his putt on the fourth green during the final round of LIV Golf Washington, D.C. golf tournament at Trump National. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports ORG XMIT: IMAGN-523605 ORIG FILE ID: 20230528_gkb_sb4_062.JPG

Koepka, who is eligible to play in the 2026 majors due to winning the 2023 PGA Championship, has not finished higher than 26th in his last nine majors.

The man who spent 47 weeks at No. 1 in the world has plummeted to No. 245.

Freddie Couples was first to hint at Koepka’s desire to leave LIV, saying early in 2025 Koepka wanted to return to the PGA Tour.

Koepka was asked by The Palm Beach Post in April if there was any truth to Couples’ statement.

“I talk to Freddie a lot,” he said. “I talk to all the guys quite a bit. But I actually had no idea of what exactly he said. Freddie texted me, said this is out. I said, ‘OK, it’s whatever.’ “

Koepka then was asked if he would like to return to the PGA Tour at the end of his LIV contract.

“I have no idea,” he said. “I’m playing this week. … I think you all are focused on it much more than I am.”

Talks between LIV and the PGA Tour have stalled this year, the last meeting coming at the White House in February, and LIV’s television ratings have sagged. O’Neil replaced former CEO and Palm Beach Gardens resident Greg Norman before the start of the 2025 season.

LIV, which is backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), has lost a reported $1 to $1.4 billion. It has not signed a significant player since poaching Jon Rahm from the PGA Tour two years ago.

Jupiter’s Dustin Johnson announced recently that he has renewed his deal. Bryson DeChambeau, the league’s biggest star, is working on an extension for his contract that expires after the 2026 season, according to reports.

LIV’s 2026 season starts Feb. 4 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. For the first time, the league will not hold an event in Florida. The league made a major change in its format for the season with each event consisting of 72 holes, up from its original 54-hole format.

Tom D’Angelo is a senior sports columnist and reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at tdangelo@pbpost.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Brooks Koepka may be looking to get out of his final year with LIV Golf