Brooks Koepka announces blockbuster exit from controversial LIV Golf as statement released
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.
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 devastating loss of their second child.
Sims, a 36-year-old Sports Illustrated model, disclosed 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 wrote on Instagram.
Jena Sims and Brooks Koepka shared heartbreaking news of the loss of their second child on Instagram earlier this year
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INSTAGRAMThe pair, who married in 2022, are parents to two-year-old son Crew, whose own arrival proved traumatic when he was born six weeks early in 2023.
The infant required 20 days in intensive care following his premature birth, adding further context to the family’s decision to step back from professional commitments.
Despite the emotional circumstances, Koepka now faces a complicated path back to mainstream competition.
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He is anticipated to receive a mandatory 12-month suspension from the PGA Tour, with the ban calculated from his final unauthorised LIV appearance in August 2025.
This penalty could prevent the American from competing on the US circuit until the FedEx Cup Fall series in September 2026.
However, the DP World Tour presents an immediate alternative, as Koepka maintains membership and faces no restrictions on participating in their events.
Crucially, the five-time major winner retains eligibility for all four major championships until 2028.
This ensures he will have access to golf’s most prestigious stages throughout his period of exile from the American tour.
Koepka’s management team expressed gratitude in a statement released through LIV Golf, thanking Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan, chief executive Scott O’Neil, and the league’s leadership.
Brooks Koepka is a five-time major champion
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PA
“Family has always guided Brooks’ decisions, and he feels this is the right moment to spend more time at home,” the statement read, adding that he “remains passionate about the game of golf and will keep fans updated on what’s ahead.”
The PGA Tour responded by describing Koepka as “a highly accomplished professional” and wishing him and his family continued success.
His departure leaves the Smash team, which he captained throughout his LIV tenure, with a vacancy just two months before the 2026 season commences in February.
What the future holds for Koepka, as he looks to regain the form that has made him a five-time major champion, is something only time will tell.
