Bryson DeChambeau confirms LIV start in 2026, Vijay Singh aims for a comeback, Charley Hull launches a YouTube channel. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the LIV Golf League for the 2026 season, which begins on February 7 in Riyadh. The five-time major champion remains connected to the competing 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 known as a competitor who thrives on top-level competition, something he found limited in LIV. He originally joined LIV in 2022 amid injury concerns, seeking a solid financial foundation for retirement. While he waived his last contractual playing year, questions remain whether he had to buy out or return part of his guaranteed fee, and if he remains an owner of his LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculations abound about where Koepka will compete next. He is eligible to play on the DP World Tour, likely with a penalty, or on the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension after his last LIV appearance, following the easing of former commissioner Jay Monahan’s lifetime bans. The key question seems partially answered as ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reports that Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which had not been renewed after 2022.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Start in 2026
Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed he will compete in the LIV Golf League in 2026. His Crushers team, including Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri, will enter their fifth season unchanged. Interestingly, DeChambeau has not publicly extended his contract, leaving room for speculation behind the scenes given Koepka’s departure and his status as a marquee LIV player.
Vijay Singh Returns to PGA Tour at 62
In a surprising move, 62-year-old three-time major winner Vijay Singh returns to the PGA Tour, using an exemption based on his career money list position. Singh, from Viti Levu, Fiji, will tee off this week at the Sony Open in Hawaii. Previously, he competed on the PGA Tour Champions, winning five titles including the Senior Players Championship.