Bryson DeChambeau confirms LIV start in 2026, Vijay Singh aims for a comeback, Charley Hull to launch a YouTube channel. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season, which begins on February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner will remain connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his family. This was reportedly agreed upon amicably, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, which he found limited in LIV. He had joined LIV in 2022 primarily because injuries forced him to consider ending his career soon and to secure a substantial retirement fund. Given that, his skipping the final contractually obligated season is not surprising, though questions remain. Did he buy out his contract or refund part of the guaranteed money? Does the 35-year-old remain the owner of his LIV team Smash GC, which has already named Talor Gooch as the new captain?
Speculation abounds about which tours Koepka will appear on next. On the DP World Tour, he would be immediately eligible to play, possibly with a penalty payment, or on the PGA Tour, where he would have to serve a one-year suspension following his last LIV event, after the formerly lifetime bans imposed by ex-Commissioner Jay Monahan were significantly softened. It makes little sense to be vindictive when any returning LIV player, especially a prominent one, benefits the established tour, which holds most of the leverage. This crucial question appears partly answered. According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally submitted an application last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which had not been extended after 2022, and to be reinstated as a player.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Start for 2026
Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau has officially confirmed that he will compete in the LIV Golf League in 2026. His Crushers team with Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri enters its fifth season intact. Interestingly, DeChambeau has not announced a general contract extension. Speculation abounds on behind-the-scenes arrangements to keep from losing one of LIV’s most prominent and marketable players after Koepka. More on this soon.
Vijay Singh Returns to PGA Tour at 62
In a surprising move, 62-year-old three-time major winner Vijay Singh from Fiji returns to the PGA Tour, using his exemption due to his position on the career money list. He starts this week at the Sony Open in Hawaii. Singh has been competing on the PGA Tour Champions, winning five titles including the Senior Players Championship.
TGL Faces Weak TV Ratings in Second Season
The Tomorrow’s Golf League (TGL) has faced a weak start in TV viewership without Tiger Woods, who was a consistent ratings draw in season one. The second season’s opening day on ABC drew only 646,000 viewers, compared with 919,000 on ESPN for the premiere season. The second match attracted only 354,000 viewers. The TGL organizers