Brooks Koepka departs LIV Golf before contract’s end
Brooks Koepka is departing LIV Golf with one year still remaining on his contract, bringing an end to his nearly four-year stint with the Saudi-backed breakaway circuit, reports BritPanorama.
The 35-year-old five-time major champion joined the controversial league in 2022, a move that contributed to significant upheaval across professional golf as numerous elite players abandoned the PGA Tour and DP World Tour.
According to Bob Harig, the American has received the blessing of LIV Golf to leave, with the organisation describing the separation as amicable. The golfer is said to be prioritising his family’s needs and wishes to remain closer to home, marking a significant shift for one of the sport’s most decorated players of recent years.
The sudden departure comes amid profound personal grief for Koepka and his wife, Jena Sims, following the loss of their second child. Sims shared on Instagram that the couple discovered at 16 weeks that their unborn baby’s heart had stopped beating. “This is a grief no parent is ever prepared for. We are devastated, but remain hopeful to give Crew a sibling one day,” she stated.
The pair, who married in 2022, welcomed their son Crew, who was born six weeks early in 2023 and required 20 days in intensive care. This context sheds light on their decision to step back from professional commitments. Despite the emotional circumstances, Koepka now faces a complicated path back to mainstream competition.
Koepka is expected to receive a mandatory 12-month suspension from the PGA Tour, calculated from his final unauthorised LIV appearance in August 2025. This could prevent him from competing on the US circuit until the FedEx Cup Fall series in September 2026. However, he retains membership with the DP World Tour and faces no restrictions on participating in their events.
Importantly, the five-time major winner maintains eligibility for all four major championships until 2028, ensuring access to golf’s most prestigious stages throughout his period away from the American tour. Koepka’s management team has expressed gratitude to LIV Golf leadership, commending their support during this transition.
Following his departure, the PGA Tour acknowledged Koepka as “a highly accomplished professional” and extended best wishes to him and his family. His exit from LIV Golf leaves the Smash team, which he captained, with a vacancy just two months before the 2026 season begins in February. As Koepka charts his future and aims to regain his competitive form, the path ahead remains uncertain.
In the ever-persistent world of golf, the human aspects of family and personal sacrifice remind us that even amid the pursuit of greatness and glory, the heart often dictates the course.
