Brooks Koepka is officially leaving LIV Golf, with Kopeka, the league and Koepka's now-former LIV Golf team, Smash GC, announcing the move.
In a statement, Koepka's representation said, "Brooks Koepka will be stepping away from LIV Golf.
"He is deeply grateful to Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Scott O’Neil, and the LIV Golf leadership team, his teammates, and the fans. Family has always guided Brooks’s decisions, and he feels this is the right moment to spend more time at home.
"Brooks will continue to be a huge 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 ahead."
In a statement released simultaneously, LIV Golf CEO Scott O'Neil said in part, "We have amicably and mutually agreed that Brooks Koepka will no longer compete in the LIV Golf League, following the 2025 season. Brooks is prioritizing the needs of his family and staying closer to home.
"We appreciate the significant impact he has had on the game and wish him continued success, both on and off the course. LIV Golf’s mission is to expand the game’s footprint to new markets, increase competitive opportunities for current and future players and fuel a thriving and growing fan base worldwide."
O'Neil added, "Achieving our mission demands exceptional dedication to rigorous global travel, heightened engagement with media, partners, and fans and a commitment to mentoring the next generation of stars. More than competitors, our players are partners in this effort to actively market the world’s most important sport."
It's unclear if Koepka will no longer own a stake in the Smash GC team. However, LIV Golf did announce that Talor Gooch, a prolific winner on LIV Golf early in its existence, is now the Smash GC captain for 2026.
Just minutes after the announcement was formally made, the PGA Tour released its own statement regarding Koepka saying,
"Brooks Koepka is a highly accomplished professional, and we wish him and his family continued success.
"The PGA Tour continues to offer the best professional golfers the most competitive, challenging and lucrative environment in which to pursue success."
Several weeks ago, a Sports Business Journal report confirmed Koepka intended to sit out the 2026 LIV Golf League season, which was his final season under contract with the Saudi-owned league. O'Neil, interviewed by SBJ, indicated that Koepka was under contract with the league but did not acknowledge anything regarding a Koepka exit.
Similarly, the PGA Tour has not previously acknowledged Koepka's potential exit, and their statement does not indicate if they would welcome back Koepka after his stint on LIV Golf, during which he won the second-most individual events. Koepka has PGA Tour status as a result of his 2023 PGA Championship win, which comes with a five-year exemption. However, Koepka could be subject to a suspension for playing LIV Golf events. Precedent suggests that would be a one-year suspension from the end of the 2025 LIV Golf season, and reporting indicated Koepka would sit out LIV Golf in 2026 with the intent of returning to the PGA Tour in 2027, knowing it could be the final year of his five-year major-winning exemption.
Koepka himself has not spoken about the news. After the LIV Golf season concluded, Koepka did play several times on the DP World Tour, including in the Amgen Irish Open, the BMW PGA Championship, the FedEx Open de France, where he contended to win, and the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. By doing that, he played in the requisite number of DP World Tour events to achieve membership.
Through his 2023 PGA Championship win, his fifth major title, Koepka earned a five-year exemption into all four major championships, into which he will have access regardless of where he plays in 2026.
