Bryson DeChambeau confirms LIV start for 2026, Vijay Singh makes a PGA comeback at 62, Charley Hull to launch YouTube channel. The Back Nine.
Expected? Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the LIV Golf League for the 2026 season, which kicks off on February 7 in Riyadh. The five-time major winner will remain connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. However, Koepka is a competitor who thrives in high-level contests and was less motivated in LIV. He switched to the Saudi-backed league in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns and to secure retirement funds, so skipping the contractually final season is not surprising. Questions remain whether he had to buy out or repay part of his guaranteed salary, and whether he remains an owner of LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation swirls about where Koepka will next appear: the DP World Tour, where he is likely eligible immediately possibly with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he would need to serve a one-year suspension from his last LIV appearance. Former life bans imposed by Commissioner Jay Monahan were softened, and re-entries could help the PGA Tour, already dominant in leverage. ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reported Koepka formally reapplied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership and rejoin the player ranks.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Start for 2026
Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed he will compete in the LIV Golf League’s 2026 season. His Crushers team with Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri remains unchanged. Interestingly, DeChambeau has not announced a general contract extension, hinting at behind-the-scenes negotiations to retain the league’s most marketable player after Koepka’s departure. More speculation to come.
Vijay Singh Returns to PGA Tour at 62
In a surprising move, three-time major champion Vijay Singh is making a PGA Tour return at age 62, leveraging his career earnings exemption. Singh, from Fiji’s Viti Levu island, will play at the Sony Open in Hawaii this week. He previously competed on the PGA Tour Champions, winning five titles including the Senior Players Championship.
TGL Struggles with TV Ratings in Second Season
The Tomorrow’s Golf League (TGL) is seeing significantly lower TV ratings in its second season without Tiger Woods, whose appearances in season one secured top numbers. The season two opener on ABC attracted only 646,000 viewers compared to 919,000 for the premiere season’s first day on ESPN. The second match between Atlanta and The Bay drew just 354,000 viewers. The TGL organizers – Woods, Rory McIlroy, and Mike McCarley – face a challenge to find a new star to attract attention, as Woods remains unmatched. McIlroy and Tom Kim have yet to fill that role effectively.
Charley Hull to Launch Own YouTube Channel
Following the path of