Bryson DeChambeau confirms LIV start in 2026, Vijay Singh makes PGA Tour comeback at 62, Charley Hull launches YouTube channel soon. The Back Nine.
As expected? Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting on February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains affiliated with the competing circuit but needs more family time. This was reportedly agreed upon amicably, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka, a fierce competitor who thrives on high-level competition, has not found his peak motivation in LIV. He initially joined in 2022 largely because he feared an early career end due to injuries and wanted a solid retirement fund. Thus, skipping the final contract year raises questions: Did he have to buy out of the contract or return part of his guaranteed salary? Is he still an owner of LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch?
Speculation rages about where Koepka will play next. Possibilities include an immediate return to the DP World Tour, likely with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he’d have to serve a one-year suspension after his last LIV appearance, since the previously lifetime bans imposed by former commissioner Jay Monahan were softened. Why be vindictive when every LIV returnee supports the well-established PGA Tour, which holds the leverage? This question seems partly answered: ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed post-2022, seeking reinstatement as a player.
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Any suspension would end in August, coinciding with the close of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship (August 27-30). Koepka would then be eligible for 2027, when the PGA Tour introduces a compressed schedule with about two dozen $20 million tournaments featuring limited elite fields — an ideal re-entry moment fitting Koepka’s style. This would also be welcomed by investors at PGA Tour Enterprises, likely the main body for the new top league, who value having another big name on board.
\”He might need some time, but I think he will return to the PGA Tour,\” said Jon Rahm recently on the ‘Subpar’ podcast. \”He’ll likely at least play the minimum, and why not the tournaments he likes, the big ones? If he qualifies for or gets into high-profile events, he’ll participate.\” Those managing suspensions at Ponte Vedra Beach include the board, player directors, and the competition committee led by Tiger Woods, who along with Rory McIlroy, supports Koepka’s immediate return. A majority of fans agree, according to a non-representative poll by Bunkered magazine.
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