Bryson DeChambeau confirms LIV Golf start in 2026, Vijay Singh returns to PGA Tour at 62, Charley Hull launches YouTube channel. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the LIV Golf League 2026 season, which begins on February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the competing circuit but needs more family time. The LIV CEO Scott McNeil stated this was a friendly agreement. Koepka is known to be a competitor who thrives in high-level contests and gets fired up, which was limited in LIV. Injuries in 2022 had initially made Koepka switch to LIV to secure his retirement funds. Questions remain whether he had to buy out or repay part of the guaranteed salary and if he still owns the LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation mounts about where Koepka will appear next. On the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible—likely with a penalty; or on the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension after his last LIV event, reduced from a former lifetime ban by ex-Commissioner Jay Monahan. Returning LIV players benefit the PGA Tour, which has the upper hand. According to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022, to be reinstated as a player.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Start for 2026
Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed he will compete in the 2026 LIV Golf League season. His Crushers team with Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri will enter their fifth season unchanged. Interestingly, DeChambeau has not announced an overall contract extension, stirring speculation about behind-the-scenes agreements to keep the league’s most marketable star after Koepka’s departure.
Vijay Singh Returns to PGA Tour at 62
In a surprising move, Vijay Singh returns to the PGA Tour at age 62. The three-time major champion from Fiji uses his career money list exemption and starts this week at the Sony Open in Hawaii. Singh had been playing on the PGA Tour Champions, winning five titles, including the Senior Players Championship.
Tomorrow’s Golf League Faces Low TV Ratings in Season Two
The Tomorrow’s Golf League (TGL) struggled with ratings in its second season opener without Tiger Woods, drawing only 646,000 viewers on ABC, compared to 919,000 on ESPN during season one’s opener. The second match between Atlanta and The Bay attracted just 354,000 viewers. Woods’ appearances in season one consistently delivered high ratings, and without him, the league faces challenges maintaining momentum despite high-tech production and social media hype.
Charley Hull Launches Her Own YouTube Channel
Following Bryson DeChambeau’s example with over three million YouTube subscribers, Charley Hull announced plans for her own channel. The 29-year-old Malbon ambassador from England, known for her glamorous and eccentric style, aims to