Bryson DeChambeau confirms LIV start for 2026, Vijay Singh makes PGA comeback, Charley Hull launches YouTube channel. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has opted out of the LIV Golf League 2026 season which starts on February 7 in Riyadh. The five-time major champion remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time, according to an amicable agreement stated by LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on top-level competition, which he found limited in LIV. He joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns and the opportunity for a solid retirement fund. His absence in the final contract year is therefore not surprising, though questions arise about contract buyouts or repayments. He remains owner of the LIV team Smash GC, with Talor Gooch as the new captain.
Speculation grows about which tours Koepka will compete on next: the DP World Tour, likely with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension after his last LIV appearance, following softened lifetime bans. This question seems partially answered as ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership and rejoin the players’ ranks.
Koepka’s Membership Reapplied: Preparing PGA Tour Return
His suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship (August 27-30). Koepka would be eligible in 2027 to compete under the PGA Tour’s restructured schedule featuring nearly two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited elite fields — a perfect timing for a comeback favoring Koepka’s competitive style and appealing to PGA Tour Enterprises investors.
\”He may need some time, but I think he will return to the PGA Tour,\” Jon Rahm recently said on the \”Subpar\” podcast. \”He’ll likely play at least a minimum number of events, probably the big ones he likes. If he qualifies or gets invites to high-profile tournaments, he’ll play those too.\” The PGA Tour board, player directors, and Tiger Woods-led competition committee hold influence over suspensions, with Rory McIlroy advocating for Koepka’s immediate return. A fan survey by \”Bunkered\” magazine suggests majority support this view.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Start for 2026
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, will enter their fifth season unchanged. Surprisingly, DeChambeau did not announce a new overall contract extension, leaving room for speculation behind the scenes about retaining one of LIV’s most marketable stars after Koepka’s departure.
Vijay Singh Back on PGA Tour at 62
In a surprising move, 62-year-old Vijay Singh returns to the PGA Tour, using an exemption based on his career money list position. He will start this week at the Sony Open in Hawaii. Singh previously competed on the PGA Tour Champions, winning five titles including the Senior Players Championship.