Bryson DeChambeau confirms LIV start 2026, Vijay Singh returns to PGA Tour at 62, Charley Hull launches YouTube channel. The Back Nine.
Expected? Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season, which begins February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for family. This was mutually agreed upon, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is a competitive type who thrives on high-level sports competitions, something he did less in LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022, facing career uncertainties due to injury, aiming to secure a solid retirement fund. Therefore, skipping the last contractually obligated season is not surprising, though questions remain about buyout terms or guarantees repayments. At 35, Koepka still owns his LIV team Smash GC, which recently appointed Talor Gooch as captain.
Speculation is rife about which fairways Koepka will appear on next — the DP World Tour, where he could play immediately likely with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension following his last LIV appearance after previously lifetime bans were softened. Why be vindictive when rejoining LIV players, especially prominent ones like Koepka, benefits the stronger tour? This question seems partly answered: ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reported Koepka formally reapplied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022, seeking reinstatement as a tour player.
Any suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the 2026 season end at the Tour Championship August 27-30. Koepka would be eligible for 2027, ideally timed for PGA Tour’s new schedule compressed to about two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited, top fields — a perfect re-entry moment by Koepka’s standards. PGA Tour Enterprises investors, likely hosting the new top league, would welcome another big-name player.
“He might need some time, but I think he will return to the PGA Tour,” Jon Rahm recently said on the \”Subpar\” podcast. “He will likely play at least minimum events, why not the ones he likes, the big ones. And if he qualifies for or gets into high-profile events, he’ll play those too.” Possibly, the PGA Tour might ease restrictions for a five-time major winner. In addition to the board, player directors and Tiger Woods-led competition committee have a say on suspensions and follow Rory McIlroy’s suggestion to let Koepka play again. A non-representative fan poll by \”Bunkered\” magazine also shows majority support.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Start for 2026
Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed he’ll play in the 2026 LIV Golf League. His Crushers team with Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri continues into its fifth season unchanged. Interestingly, DeChambeau has not announced a general contract extension, raising speculation on behind-the-scenes arrangements to retain the league’s most marketable star after Koepka’s departure.