Bryson DeChambeau confirms LIV Golf League start in 2026, Vijay Singh aims for a comeback, and Charley Hull is set to launch her own YouTube channel. The Back Nine.
It was expected: Brooks Koepka officially withdrew from the 2026 LIV Golf season beginning February 7th in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time. This was reportedly a mutual agreement, as per LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s statement. Koepka is known as a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, which he found limited at LIV. He had joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns about his career’s end and to secure a solid retirement fund. Thus, skipping the final contracted season raises questions about possible payouts or refunds. Koepka remains owner of LIV team Smash GC, with Talor Gooch now captain.
Speculation grows about where Koepka will next compete: the DP World Tour, where immediate eligibility might require a penalty payment, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension after LIV participation, following softened lifetime bans by former commissioner Jay Monahan. Why hold grudges when any prominent LIV returnee benefits the dominant Tour? ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reports Koepka formally applied last Friday to reinstate his PGA Tour membership after it lapsed post-2022.
Koepka’s suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the 2026 season’s end at the Tour Championship (August 27–30). He would then be eligible for the 2027 season, coinciding with the PGA Tour’s revamped schedule consolidating nearly two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited, top-tier fields — a perfect timing for his comeback. PGA Tour Enterprises investors would welcome a marquee name like Koepka.
Jon Rahm recently told the \”Subpar\” podcast, \”He might need some time, but I think he will return to the PGA Tour. He’ll probably play at least the minimum, and why not the tournaments he likes, the big ones. If he qualifies or gets invites, he’ll play those too.\” The PGA Tour’s board, player directors, and Tiger Woods-led competition committee hold sway over suspension decisions and reportedly favor allowing Koepka back, following Rory McIlroy’s recommendation. Fans seem to share this view, according to an informal \”Bunkered\” magazine poll.
DeChambeau Confirmed for LIV Start 2026
Bryson DeChambeau has officially confirmed his participation in the 2026 LIV Golf League season. His Crushers team with Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri will return unchanged for their fifth season. However, DeChambeau has not announced a general contract extension, fueling speculation about behind-the-scenes agreements to retain LIV’s top marketable player after Koepka’s exit.
Vijay Singh Returns to PGA Tour at 62
In a surprising move, three-time major winner Vijay Singh is returning to the PGA Tour at 62 years old. The Fijian star uses an exemption based on his career earnings ranking and will start at this week’s Sony Open in Hawaii