Bryson DeChambeau confirms LIV start in 2026, Vijay Singh returns to PGA, Charley Hull launches YouTube channel. The Back Nine.
It was expected: Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season, which kicks off February 7 in Riyadh. The five-time major winner will stay connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for family, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. However, Koepka is known as a competitor who thrives on the highest-level contests, which he found limited in LIV. He joined LIV in 2022 primarily due to injury concerns and to secure a substantial retirement fund. Therefore, skipping the final contracted season is not surprising, though questions remain: Did he have to buy out his contract or repay a part of his guaranteed salary? Will he remain owner of his LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch?
Speculations are rising on which fairways Koepka will play next — back on the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible, likely upon a fine, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension that follows his last LIV appearance after former Commissioner Jay Monahan softened the initial lifetime bans. The question of whether to be vengeful is moot since any LIV returnee, especially a prominent one, benefits the PGA Tour, which already holds the leverage. This key question appears partly answered: according to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not extended post-2022, seeking reinstatement as a player.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Start for 2026
Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed his participation in the LIV Golf League in 2026. His Crushers team, including Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri, heads into its fifth season unchanged. Intriguingly, DeChambeau has not announced a general contract extension, raising speculation behind the scenes about negotiations to retain the league’s most marketable active figure after Koepka’s departure. More information is expected soon.
Vijay Singh Returns to PGA Tour at 62
Surprising move: Vijay Singh, the three-time major winner from Fiji’s Viti Levu island, is making a PGA Tour comeback at age 62. Utilizing an exemption tied to his career money list ranking, Singh starts this week at the Sony Open in Hawaii. He previously competed on the PGA Tour Champions, securing five titles, including the Senior Players Championship.
TGL Faces Low TV Ratings in Second Season
The Tomorrow’s Golf League (TGL) is struggling with viewership in its second season, especially without Tiger Woods who reliably drew top ratings in season one. The opening day on ABC attracted only 646,000 viewers, down from 919,000 on ESPN during the premiere season’s first day. The second match, Atlanta versus The Bay, drew a mere 354,000 viewers. The TGL founders—Woods, Rory McIlroy, and partner Mike McCarley—must quickly find a new star to maintain momentum. Woods