Bryson DeChambeau confirms LIV Golf 2026 start; Vijay Singh returns to PGA Tour at 62; Charley Hull to launch YouTube channel. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh. The five-time major winner will remain connected to the rival circuit but requires more family time, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka, a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, struggled to find motivation in LIV Golf. Having joined in 2022 due to injury concerns and to secure his retirement funds, it was unsurprising for him to forgo the final contractual season, though questions remain about possible buyouts or repayments. He remains the owner of LIV team Smash GC, with Talor Gooch as new captain.
Speculation abounds on which fairways Koepka will appear next: the DP World Tour, where he would be eligible immediately possibly after a penalty, or the PGA Tour where he faces a one-year suspension following LIV participation, reduced from a prior lifetime ban. A significant development revealed by ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach is that Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership which was not extended after 2022.
Such a suspension would expire by August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship. Koepka would then be eligible for 2027, aligning perfectly with the PGA Tour’s new schedule featuring about two dozen $20 million tournaments and limited, well-staffed fields. This timing suits Koepka’s preferences and would be appealing for PGA Tour Enterprises investors backing the new elite league.
Jon Rahm recently expressed in the podcast Subpar that Koepka might need some time but is likely to return to the PGA Tour, playing selectively in preferred big tournaments. The PGA Tour’s board, player directors, and the Tiger Woods-led competition committee hold veto power over suspension issues and reportedly favor lifting Koepka’s ban, following Rory McIlroy’s recommendation. This sentiment is mirrored by many fans, as shown in a non-representative survey by Bunkered magazine.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Golf Start for 2026
Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau has officially confirmed his participation in the 2026 LIV Golf League season. His Crushers team with Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri will continue unchanged into their fifth season. Interestingly, DeChambeau has not announced a general contract extension, fueling speculation about behind-the-scenes negotiations to retain LIV’s most marketable player after Koepka’s exit.
Vijay Singh Returns to PGA Tour at 62
In a surprising move, 62-year-old Vijay Singh is back on the PGA Tour. The three-time major champion from Fiji, leveraging his career earnings exemption, will compete this week at the Sony Open in Hawaii. Singh previously played on the PGA Tour Champions, winning five titles, including the Senior Players Championship.
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