Bryson DeChambeau confirms LIV start 2026, Vijay Singh returns to PGA Tour, Charley Hull launching YouTube channel. The Back Nine.
Brooks Koepka has officially opted out of the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh. The five-time major champion will remain connected to the competing circuit but wants more family time, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s friendly agreement statement. Koepka, known for his competitive nature at the highest levels, has had a limited motivation on LIV, having switched to the Saudi circuit in 2022 due to injury concerns and to secure substantial retirement funds. Questions remain whether he had to buy out his contract or return part of his guaranteed salary, and whether he stays owner of the LIV team Smash GC, which named Talor Gooch its new captain.
Speculations abound about Koepka’s next fairways: the DP World Tour where he’d be eligible to play immediately – likely with a penalty fee? Or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension after his last LIV participation, following the reduction of previously lifetime bans by former Commissioner Jay Monahan. The critical question seems partially answered: according to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership not extended after 2022.
An eventual suspension would end this August, coinciding with the 2026 season finale at the Tour Championship from August 27 to 30. Koepka would be eligible for 2027 if the PGA Tour introduces its new schedule of nearly two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited elite fields. This timing could mark a perfect comeback, in Koepka’s style. Investors at PGA Tour Enterprises, likely the new top league operator, would welcome another strong name.
\”He may need some time, but I think he will return to the PGA Tour,\” said Jon Rahm in a recent Subpar podcast. \”He’ll probably play at least the minimum, the big events he likes. If he qualifies for high-profile tournaments or gets invitations, he’ll play those, too.\” There’s speculation that the PGA Tour may show leniency to a five-time major winner. The decision includes the Board, Player Directors, and the competition committee led by Tiger Woods, with Rory McIlroy recommending Koepka’s immediate return. A majority of fans seem to agree, according to a non-representative poll by Bunkered magazine.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Start for 2026
Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed his participation in the LIV Golf League for 2026. His Crushers team featuring Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri continues unchanged into the fifth season. Interestingly, DeChambeau has not announced a general contract extension, sparking speculation about behind-the-scenes arrangements to retain the league’s most marketable active player after Koepka’s departure.
Vijay Singh Returns to PGA Tour at 62
In a surprising move, three-time major winner Vijay Singh is returning to the PGA Tour at age 62, utilizing his career earnings exemption. He will debut this week at the Sony Open in Hawaii after competing on the