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Five-time Major champion Brooks Koepka became the first player to leave LIV Golf, a major blow to the Saudi-funded league and raising questions about whether the PGA Tour will find a way for him to return.
LIV Golf posted an announcement on its website that Talor Gooch has become the new captain of the Smash team led by Koepka.
Scott O'Neill, LIV's new CEO, said that Koepka and LIV “by amicable and mutual agreement” Koepka will no longer play in the league.
“Brooks prioritizes his family's needs and stays close to home,” O'Neill said. “We appreciate the significant impact he has had on the game and wish him continued success, both on and off the field.”
LIV does not disclose contracts, although Koepke was believed to have another year left on his June 2022 arrival.
The PGA Tour's policy of barring players who join a competing league requires them to sit out for one year from their last participation. LIV ended the season on August 24.
Koepka began his career on tour in Europe and had the opportunity to play there. He played four European Tour events this year, finishing fourth at the French Open the week before the Ryder Cup. He played in the 2023 Ryder Cup but was not considered this year due to his form.
Blake Smith, Koepka's manager at Hambric Sports, said there would be no comment other than a statement released through LIV Golf that Koepka was grateful for his time at LIV.
“Family has always driven Brooks' decisions, and he believes now is the right time to spend more time at home,” the statement said. “Brooks will continue to be a strong supporter of LIV Golf and wishes the league and its players continued success. “Brooks remains passionate about the game of golf and will keep fans updated on what's to come.”
“Highly qualified professional”
The PGA Tour, while not offering any content, took the rare step of acknowledging a move involving a player who is no longer a member.
“Brooks Koepka is a highly accomplished professional and we wish him and his family continued success,” the tour said in a statement. “The PGA Tour continues to offer top professional golfers the most competitive, challenging and rewarding environment in which they can strive for greatness.”
Koepka warned the PGA Tour of his plans before LIV was announced, according to one person familiar with the information. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because it has not been publicly disclosed.
The first step to getting Koepka back is to reapply for membership. He was not among the LIV players named in the antitrust lawsuit filed against the PGA Tour in 2022.
Koepka, who spent 47 weeks at No. 1 in the world in 2018 and 2019, was one of the biggest players acquired by LIV at the time of its 2022 launch. He dealt with injuries and later suggested that he might not have joined if his health had been better.
A week earlier, he attended a 2022 US Open meeting with top PGA Tour players, urging them to rally behind the tour. PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan even attended Koepka's wedding in the Caribbean a few weeks before he moved to LIV.
Koepka was the first LIV player to win a major in 2023 when he won the PGA Championship at Oak Hill in his fifth major. The following year, Bryson DeChambeau won the US Open.
Koepka has won five times at LIV Golf, but in 2025 he had only two top-10 finishes (his best finish was second) and finished 31st in the 54-man field. He missed the cut in five of the eight tournaments he entered outside of LIV this year, including three majors.
A strident speaker, Koepka expressed disappointment earlier in the year that LIV had not progressed as far as he had hoped.
His departure leaves DeChambeau and Jon Rahm, two-time major champions, as the biggest players in a league that also includes Ryder Cup player Tyrrell Hatton.
LIV did not specify how Koepka would be replaced. The league has only signed Victor Perez and Laurie Kanter for the 2026 season, which starts in February in Saudi Arabia. There is a promotional tournament in January where two players can gain access to LIV.
The league is also awaiting a decision on its application for inclusion in the Official World Golf Ranking System. One sticking point has been LIV's selection of players for its tournament, which is different from other tours that are part of the ranking system.
