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• Five-time major champion Brooks Koepka announced his departure from LIV Golf on December 23, 2025, citing family priorities.
• The 35-year-old American, who joined LIV in 2022, becomes the first prominent player to exit the controversial series.
• Koepka’s amicable split leaves his 2026 plans unclear, with potential PGA Tour return complicated by eligibility rules.
• LIV CEO Scott O’Neil praised Koepka’s impact, while the PGA Tour issued a neutral well-wish statement.

A Family-Focused Decision

Brooks Koepka’s exit from LIV Golf marks a pivotal moment in professional golf. The Florida native prioritized family time, particularly after personal challenges including his wife’s miscarriage earlier in 2025.

His representatives emphasized gratitude toward LIV leadership, teammates, and fans, affirming ongoing passion for the sport. Koepka plans to update supporters on future endeavors soon.

LIV Golf confirmed the mutual agreement, with CEO Scott O’Neil highlighting Koepka’s contributions and wishing him success. Talor Gooch assumes captaincy of Smash GC, Koepka’s former team, for the 2026 season starting February.

Koepka’s LIV Tenure and Legacy

Koepka’s 2022 defection shocked the golf world, joining stars like Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson amid tensions between LIV and traditional tours. He won five individual events, including proving LIV players’ major viability by claiming the 2023 PGA Championship—his fifth overall.

Recent form dipped: no wins in 2025, finishing 31st in standings with limited top-10s and three major missed cuts. Travel demands and time zones strained family life, influencing his choice.

Future Playing Options and Eligibility

Koepka’s immediate plans remain undisclosed. Major exemptions secure spots through 2028 (or lifetime for PGA), allowing participation regardless of tour affiliation.

DP World Tour membership offers European events—he competed in four during late 2025, contending strongly.

PGA Tour return faces hurdles. LIV participation triggered suspension; precedent requires one year from last event (August 2025), potentially delaying eligibility until late 2026 or 2027. Reinstatement involves reapplication and board review, including player directors.

The PGA Tour’s statement wished success without hinting at policy shifts.

Brooks Koepka’s departure from LIV Golf on December 23, 2025, sends ripples through the sport. As the first major-winning defector to leave, his move underscores evolving player priorities amid golf’s fractured landscape.

Joining LIV in June 2022 with a reported lucrative deal, Koepka captained Smash GC and delivered early successes. His 2023 PGA triumph validated LIV’s competitive edge, silencing doubters temporarily.

Form declined in 2025: no titles, poor major showings, and ranking drop. Personal factors—family time, travel strain, and 2025 challenges—tipped the scale toward home focus.

LIV’s response remained gracious, transitioning leadership smoothly. O’Neil’s praise reflects Koepka’s promotional value despite recent struggles.

Speculation centers on 2026. Majors beckon via exemptions, DP World Tour provides familiar ground (recent strong finishes), but PGA Tour pathway involves bureaucracy. One-year ban from final LIV event complicates full return, potentially pushing to 2027.

Koepka’s affinity for European play—he thrived in select 2025 starts—offers viable alternatives. Family-guided timing aligns with prime-career reflection at 35.

This exit highlights LIV’s retention challenges post-initial hype. Early coups masked underlying player discontent over format, scheduling, and relevance.

For Koepka, freedom brings options: selective events, family balance, or negotiated returns. His legacy—nine PGA Tour wins pre-LIV, five majors—ensures relevance wherever he competes.

Golf watchers await updates, as Koepka’s choice could influence others contemplating similar paths.

Koepka’s story evolves from controversy to introspection, reminding that even elite athletes prioritize life beyond fairways.

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