When Brooks Koepka joined LIV Golf in June 2022, he represented a shift—a major champion choosing millions over tradition. However, just three years in, the priorities have shifted. As he leaves the PIF-backed circuit for good, LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil has shown his full support for the decision.

“Brooks is prioritizing the needs of his family and staying closer to home,” O’Neil stated. “We appreciate the significant impact he has had on the game and wish him continued success, both on and off the course.”

With this amicable and mutual support, Koepka becomes the first marquee player to voluntarily leave the Saudi-backed circuit. The implications of the move run deeper than they appear on the surface, though.

Koepka’s contract was due till the end of 2026. So, his desperate move will keep him inactive on the PGA Tour as he will be completing his suspension that the US-based circuit forced on anyone who was to leave it for the LIV Golf. However, they did not step back from giving a cryptic response to this decision.

“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 greatness,” the latest tweet by the PGA Tour read.

Additionally, O’Neil’s statement also reveals why LIV Golf let him go.

The CEO emphasized that LIV’s 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.”

The subtext was clear: LIV Golf requires full participation, not selective appearances.

For a player based in Jupiter, Florida, the math became untenable.

Additionally, LIV’s 2025 schedule stretched across Saudi Arabia, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Mexico, Spain, England, and multiple U.S. venues. The 2026 calendar promises more of the same: Riyadh to Adelaide to Hong Kong to Singapore to South Africa, all before the season reaches its midpoint. That’s the grind Koepka is walking away from.

“Family has always guided Brooks’s decisions, and he feels this is the right moment to spend more time at home,” Koepka’s representatives echoed the sentiment.

Back in October, his wife, Jena Sims, shared that they lost their baby at sixteen weeks as its heart stopped beating. Moreover, after winning four majors and spending 44 total weeks as the World No. 1 golfer between 2018 and 2020, Koepka’s performance sank to historic lows in recent years, finishing top-25 in just one of eight major starts in the last two years.

In his 3 years with LIV, Koepka won three individual events and banked approximately $44.71 million in prize money, on top of a reported $100 million signing bonus. In 2023, he hoisted the Wanamaker Trophy at Oak Hill, becoming the first LIV Golf player to capture a major championship. He also played at Marco Simone, representing the American Ryder Cup, becoming the first LIV golfer to do so.

But the consequences don’t stop at Koepka.

Analysts had warned this moment could arrive, describing Koepka’s potential departure as a leak in the dam that might trigger a domino effect, destabilizing the entire league, and leading to other pros leaving LIV. The rumors of his exit have been floating around since March this year, when veteran Fred Couples revealed his intentions. Now that the leak has burst, someone must fill the void.

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As Brooks Koepka spends more time at home, Talor Gooch will assume the team’s captaincy for 2026. Gooch earned this moment. He won three LIV events in 2023 and claimed the season-long individual championship, pocketing an $18 million bonus. LIV’s statement praised his proven track record and business acumen as qualifications for leadership.

However, Gooch represents a commitment to the system rather than a disruption of the establishment. O’Neil’s framing of players as “partners” who “actively market the world’s most important sport” signals an evolved expectation—one that prioritizes grinders over stars who simply want compensation.

LIV is no longer just acquiring talent.

The question hovering over Koepka’s future remains unanswered: Will he seek reinstatement to the PGA Tour? The pathway exists—a one-year waiting period from his last LIV event, followed by a formal reapplication process. His 2023 PGA Championship victory grants him major exemptions through 2028, meaning the biggest stages remain accessible regardless of tour status.

Koepka secured the bag. Now the question becomes whether he wants his legacy back—competing against Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, and the current elite on American soil, on his own terms.