Brooks Koepka leaves LIV Golf in major blow to breakaway league

Five-time major winner Brooks Koepka is leaving LIV Golf in a big blow for the breakaway league.

Koepka announced his departure following the conclusion of the 2025 season on Tuesday via a statement released by his management through the Saudi-backed league.

"Brooks Koepka will be stepping away from LIV Golf … Family has always guided Brooks' decisions, and he feels this is the right moment to spend more time at home," the statement read.

The 35-year-old, who signed with LIV in 2022 and reportedly had one year remaining on his contract, did not share immediate plans for his competitive future.

Koepka won five LIV Golf events over four seasons, laden with highs and lows. When he won the 2023 PGA Championship after spending most of his days playing in LIV's comparatively non-competitive environment that featured 54-hole, no-cut tournaments, it gave LIV a big boost of credibility.

On the flip side, Koepka occasionally expressed his frustration with his situation — sounding like the 2017 and 2018 US Open champion and 2018, 2019, 2023 US PGA Championship winner was marking time.

"I've got a contract obligation out here to fulfil, and then we'll see what happens," he said at one LIV event.

Koepka won nine PGA Tour events during his nine seasons on the tour and was also twice runner-up at The Masters.

While Koepka can tee it up for all four majors next year thanks to his 2023 PGA Championship victory, the PGA Tour requires LIV exiles to sit out one year from their last LIV tournament.

His last appearance was on August 24 at the one-day LIV Golf Michigan event.

The PGA Tour could offer an exemption, but also opted not to offer any hints in its statement.

"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."

LIV Golf announced that Talor Gooch would step up to replace Koepka as captain of the four-player Smash GC LIV Golf team.

"We appreciate the significant impact he has had on the game and wish him continued success, both on and off the course," LIV Golf chief executive Scott O'Neill said in a statement.

AAP/Reuters