Bryson DeChambeau confirms LIV start in 2026, Vijay Singh makes comeback, Charley Hull to launch YouTube channel. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has opted out of the LIV Golf League season starting February 7, 2026, in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains aligned with the competing circuit but needs more family time. This was reportedly amicably agreed upon, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. However, Koepka is a competitor who thrives on top-level challenges, which LIV only partially provided. He originally joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns about his career’s end and to secure a strong retirement fund. Thus, skipping the last contracted season raises questions about buyouts or returning some guaranteed earnings. He remains the owner of LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation swirls about where Koepka will play next—DP World Tour where he holds immediate eligibility, possibly with penalties, or the PGA Tour where he must serve a one-year suspension after his last LIV event, following previous lifetime bans being significantly eased. Recently, ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reported Koepka formally applied to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, aiming to rejoin the player pool.
DeChambeau confirms LIV start for 2026
Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau has officially confirmed his participation in the LIV Golf League in 2026. His Crushers team, including Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri, will enter their fifth season unchanged. Interestingly, DeChambeau has not announced a general contract extension, sparking speculation about behind-the-scenes arrangements to retain him as LIV’s most marketable player after Koepka’s departure.
Vijay Singh returns to PGA Tour at 62
In a surprising move, 62-year-old three-time major champion Vijay Singh returns to the PGA Tour, leveraging an exemption based on his career earnings ranking. Singh, from Fiji’s Viti Levu island, will debut this week at the Sony Open in Hawaii. He previously competed on the PGA Tour Champions, winning five titles including the Senior Players Championship.
TGL faces ratings decline in season two
The Tomorrow’s Golf League (TGL) struggled in TV ratings without Tiger Woods, whose presence drove strong viewership in season one. The second season opener on ABC drew only 646,000 viewers, down from 919,000 on ESPN last year. The following match attracted just 354,000 viewers. Woods, Rory McIlroy, and partner Mike McCarley must find a new marquee star, as Woods remains unmatched as the sport’s main draw.
Charley Hull to launch own YouTube channel
Following Bryson DeChambeau’s success with over three million subscribers, English pro Charley Hull announced her own YouTube channel. The 29-year-old Malbon ambassador, known for extravagant outfits, plans to start this summer. Hull debuted this news on YouTube channel “The Lads,” hosted by Jason Day, with the project named “The Sweet Spot.”