Bryson DeChambeau confirms LIV Golf start in 2026, Vijay Singh aims for a comeback, Charley Hull will soon join YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the LIV Golf League season starting February 7, 2026, in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time. LIV CEO Scott McNeil stated this was amicably agreed upon. Koepka, a competitor who thrives on top-level contests, has been less motivated in LIV. He originally joined LIV in 2022 mainly to secure financial stability due to injury concerns cutting short his career. Questions remain, such as whether he had to buy out his contract or pay back a guarantee. Despite this, Koepka remains the owner of LIV team Smash GC, which has named Talor Gooch as its new captain.
Speculation arises on where Koepka will next compete: the DP World Tour, where he’d be eligible immediately potentially for a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension since his last LIV event after lifetime bans from former commissioner Jay Monahan were eased. According to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022.
An eventual suspension would end in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 PGA Tour season at the Tour Championship (August 27-30). Koepka would be eligible for the 2027 season, which features a compressed schedule of nearly two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited elite fields, an ideal return timing for the competitor. This move would also please investors of PGA Tour Enterprises, likely overseeing the new top league, eager for a big-name draw.
Jon Rahm recently expressed in the ‘Subpar’ podcast, \”He might need some time, but I believe he will return to the PGA Tour. He’ll probably play at least the minimum, maybe the big events he likes. If he qualifies for high-profile tournaments, he’ll play those too.\” With influential support from Rory McIlroy and potential leniency from the Tiger Woods-led competition committee, Koepka’s reinstatement seems promising. A non-representative fan poll by Bunkered showed majority approval for his return.
DeChambeau confirms LIV start for 2026
Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed his participation in the LIV Golf League in 2026. His Crushers team with Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri remains intact entering the fifth season. Interestingly, DeChambeau has not announced a general contract extension, fueling speculation about behind-the-scenes agreements to retain LIV’s current star after Koepka’s departure.
Vijay Singh returns to PGA Tour at 62
In a surprising move, three-time major winner Vijay Singh, aged 62, returns to the PGA Tour using an exemption based on his career earnings rank. Singh, from Fiji’s Viti Levu, begins this week at the Sony Open in Hawaii. Previously, he played the PGA Tour Champions, with five titles including the Senior Players Championship.