Koepka had already stopped referring to Smash as “his team” and instead started calling it “the team I play for.”
Koepka officially became the first major star to leave the breakaway circuit when his departure was confirmed in December, but in retrospect, the exit felt inevitable. The five-time major champion had already begun expressing doubts about LIV’s progress ahead of the 2025 campaign, openly acknowledging that the league was not developing as quickly as expected.
Although he appeared to embrace the responsibilities of being a team captain, questions persisted about how fully invested he was in the concept — not least because he often wore apparel that did not match the rest of his Smash GC teammates.
What Koepka was seen doing at LIV events throughout 2025
On the course, 2025 proved deeply frustrating. Koepka missed the cut at three of the four major championships, and his final top-10 finish on LIV came as early as March. It is also important to note that he endured serious personal difficulties away from golf, circumstances that almost certainly influenced his performances.
Still, according to Rick Shiels, lack of effort was never the issue. Speaking on The Rick Shiels Golf Show, Shiels described just how intensely Koepka was working behind the scenes in an attempt to rediscover his best form.
He recalled seeing Koepka repeatedly as the last player to leave the practice range, describing a competitor who seemed troubled, searching for answers and visibly unhappy — not only with his golf, but with the situation surrounding him. The Koepka fans were accustomed to seeing, particularly at major championships, simply did not appear in 2025, and the frustration was evident.
The unexpected responsibility Koepka carried inside LIV
From the outside, Koepka’s different attire and reserved demeanour made it easy to assume he never truly embraced LIV’s team structure. In reality, the situation was far more complex.
One of LIV’s ongoing challenges has been the lack of clarity around how its teams actually operate, including who controls recruitment and daily management. As Shiels explained, Koepka was not merely Smash GC’s captain — he was effectively running the organisation.
While other LIV teams were supported by full operational staff, including management and social media departments, Smash GC had no dedicated general manager. Instead, Koepka himself attended meetings with other team executives and handled many of those responsibilities personally — an arrangement Shiels described as “wild”.
Seen through that lens, Koepka’s decision to leave LIV becomes easier to understand. Free from the burden of running a team, he can now focus entirely on rebuilding his own game.
READ MORE: Brandel Chamblee hits back at Rory McIlroy’s view on LIV golfers rejoining the PGA Tour
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