Bryson DeChambeau confirms LIV start in 2026, Vijay Singh makes a comeback on the PGA Tour at 62, and Charley Hull is launching her own YouTube channel soon. The Back Nine.
It was expected: Brooks Koepka has opted out of the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion will stay connected to the competing circuit but needs more family time, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is known as a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, which he found somewhat lacking on LIV. In 2022, he had joined LIV mainly due to injury concerns ending his career and to secure a substantial retirement fund. His skipping the final contracted season raises questions: Did he buy out the contract or return part of his guaranteed purse? Is he still the owner of his LIV team Smash GC, which has appointed Talor Gooch as captain?
Speculations arise about which fairways Koepka will appear on next. The DP World Tour offers immediate playing rights, possibly with a penalty; the PGA Tour would require him to serve a one-year suspension due to LIV participation, with previous lifetime bans softened. Recently, according to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally reapplied to reinstate his PGA Tour membership and rejoin the players’ ranks.
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