Bryson DeChambeau confirms LIV Golf League start in 2026, Vijay Singh looks to return to PGA Tour at age 62, and Charley Hull announces upcoming YouTube channel launch. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season commencing on February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the competing circuit but seeks more family time. LIV CEO Scott McNeil stated this was amicably agreed upon. However, Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level competition and motivation, which he has only partially found in LIV. He originally joined LIV in 2022 amid injury concerns to secure a strong retirement fund. Given this, his decision to forgo the final contracted season is not surprising, though questions persist about buyouts or salary repayments. Koepka, 35, still owns the LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation intensifies on which tours Koepka might next appear. The DP World Tour could welcome him right away, possibly with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he must serve a one-year suspension post his last LIV appearance after earlier lifetime bans were softened. Considering that every returning LIV player benefits the PGA Tour, and with major stakeholders supporting reintegration, recent reports from ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reveal Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, aiming for reentry into the playing field.
An eventual suspension would end in August 2026, coinciding with the Tour Championship that same month. This timing would allow Koepka full eligibility for the 2027 season, aligning with the PGA Tour’s newly compressed schedule featuring nearly two dozen $20 million events with limited, top-tier fields — an ideal comeback scenario suited to his preferences and attractive to investors at PGA Tour Enterprises.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Start for 2026
Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed his participation in the 2026 LIV Golf League. His Crushers team, including Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri, will continue into the fifth season unchanged. Interestingly, he has not announced a general contract extension, leaving room for speculation on the behind-the-scenes arrangements to retain LIV’s most marketable figure post-Koepka.
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 champion from Fiji leverages an exemption based on his career money list position and will compete starting this week at the Sony Open in Hawaii. Previously, Singh claimed five titles on the PGA Tour Champions, including the Senior Players Championship.
TGL Faces Weak TV Ratings in Season Two
The Tomorrow’s Golf League (TGL) struggles with TV viewership without Tiger Woods, who drove strong ratings in its inaugural season. ABC’s season two opener attracted just 646,000 viewers, down from 919,000 on ESPN in year one; interest further declined to 354,000 for the second match between Atlanta and The Bay. Woods, along with Rory McIlroy and partner Mike McCarley