Bryson DeChambeau confirms LIV start in 2026, Vijay Singh aims for a comeback, Charley Hull to launch YouTube channel. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the LIV Golf League for the 2026 season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his family. This amicable agreement was officially announced by LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka, known as a competitor motivated by high-level challenges, showed limited motivation in LIV. His 2022 move to the Saudi-backed league was largely driven by injury concerns and securing a solid retirement fund. Therefore, skipping the final contracted season is not surprising, although questions remain about buyout terms and whether he will remain owner of his LIV team Smash GC, which has appointed Talor Gooch as new captain.
There is much speculation about where Koepka will next compete. The DP World Tour would grant him immediate eligibility, possibly with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension dating from his last LIV participation, since the lifetime bans imposed by former Commissioner Jay Monahan were significantly softened. It makes strategic sense for the PGA Tour to welcome back prominent LIV returnees. According to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not extended after 2022, to rejoin the player ranks.
Koepka Reapplies for PGA Tour Membership
His suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship from August 27 to 30. Koepka would be eligible for the 2027 season under the PGA Tour’s compressed schedule featuring nearly two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited elite fields — a perfect re-entry point according to Koepka’s preferences. Investors in PGA Tour Enterprises overseeing the new top-tier league would likely welcome another marquee name.
\”He might need some time, but I think he’ll return to the PGA Tour,\” said Jon Rahm recently on the podcast ‘Subpar’. \”He’ll probably play a minimum, focusing on the big tournaments he likes. If he qualifies for or gets invited to top-tier events, he’ll play those too.\” It’s possible the PGA Tour might be lenient with a five-time major winner. The decision on suspensions involves the board, player directors, and the competition committee led by Tiger Woods, and follows Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to allow Koepka to play immediately. A majority of fans appear to support this, as a non-representative poll by Bunkered magazine found.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Start for 2026
Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed he will compete in LIV Golf in 2026. His Crushers team, including Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri, will enter their fifth season unchanged. Interestingly, DeChambeau has not announced a general contract extension, leaving room for speculation about behind-the-scenes arrangements to retain LIV’s most marketable active player following Koepka’s departure.