Bryson DeChambeau confirms LIV start in 2026, Vijay Singh makes a comeback, Charley Hull to launch YouTube channel. The Back Nine.
Predictable? Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season set to start on February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains connected to the competing circuit but needs more time for family. This was reportedly a mutual and friendly agreement, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level sporting challenges, something LIV has only partly offered. He initially joined LIV in 2022 largely due to injury concerns jeopardizing his career and to secure a solid retirement fund. Thus, his skipping the last contractually obligated playing year is not surprising, though questions remain. Did he have to buy out or pay back part of his guarantee? Does the 35-year-old remain owner of LIV team Smash GC, which has named Talor Gooch as captain?
Speculation now focuses on which fairways Koepka will appear next. On the DP World Tour, where he would have immediate playing rights—likely with a penalty? Or on the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension after his last LIV appearance, following a significant reduction of previously life bans by former commissioner Jay Monahan? Why be retaliatory when every LIV returnee, especially a prominent one like Koepka, benefits the longer-established tour? This key question seems partly answered. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022, and to be readmitted to the players’ ranks.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Start for 2026
Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau has officially confirmed his participation in the 2026 LIV Golf League. His Crushers team, featuring Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri, will enter their fifth season unchanged. Interestingly, DeChambeau has not announced a general contract extension. Speculations about behind-the-scenes agreements to prevent losing the league’s most marketable player after Koepka are rife. More on this to come.
Vijay Singh Returns to PGA Tour at 62
In a surprising move, Vijay Singh is making a PGA Tour comeback at age 62. The three-time major winner from Fiji utilizes an exemption based on his career earnings ranking and is set to compete at the Sony Open in Hawaii this week. Singh has been active on the PGA Tour Champions, where he has won five titles, including the Senior Players Championship.
TGL Faces Weak TV Ratings in Second Season
The Tomorrow’s Golf League saw a weak start in TV ratings for its second season, with only 646,000 viewers tuning in on ABC for the opening day, down from 919,000 on ESPN in the premiere season. The second match between Atlanta and The Bay attracted just 354,000 viewers. Without Tiger Woods, who regularly brought in high ratings in season one, the simulator-based league struggles to maintain momentum despite high-tech features and social media hype. TGL organizers – Woods, Rory McIlroy,