Bryson DeChambeau confirms LIV start in 2026, Vijay Singh makes a comeback, Charley Hull launches YouTube channel. The Back Nine.
Predictable? Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn for the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for family. This was reportedly a mutual agreement, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is a competitive type who thrives in top-level competition, something LIV hasn’t fully fulfilled for him. Originally, Koepka joined LIV in 2022 due to injury concerns over his career and to secure a retirement fund. Hence, skipping the last contract year is unsurprising, though questions remain. Did he buy out his contract or repay a part of the guaranteed fee? Does he remain an owner of the LIV team Smash GC, which has already appointed Talor Gooch as captain?
More speculation surrounds which tours Koepka will next appear in. The DP World Tour would grant him immediate eligibility, possibly with a penalty, or he could return to the PGA Tour, where he must serve a one-year suspension since his last LIV event after formerly lifetime bans were softened. Why be vindictive when any returning LIV player, especially a star, benefits the dominant tour? This key question now has partial answers. According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, not renewed after 2022, aiming for reinstatement.
An eventual suspension ends in August. Although the 2026 PGA Tour season with the Tour Championship concluding August 27-30 would be near over, Koepka could play in 2027 when PGA Tour’s new schedule compresses nearly two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited top-player fields. The perfect timing for a comeback, fitting Koepka’s style. Investors at PGA Tour Enterprises, likely backing the new elite league, would probably welcome another marquee name.
\”He may need some time, but I think he’ll return to the PGA Tour,\” Jon Rahm recently said on the \”Subpar\” podcast. \”He’ll probably at least play the minimum and why not the tournaments he likes, the big ones. If he qualifies or is invited to high-profile events, he’ll play those too.\” Perhaps a five-time major champion will receive leniency at Ponte Vedra Beach, where besides the board, the player directors and Tiger Woods-led competition committee have a say. Rory McIlroy recommends Koepka’s immediate return, a view shared by many fans per a non-representative \”Bunkered\” poll.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Start for 2026
Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed he will compete in the LIV Golf League in 2026. His Crushers team with Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri remains intact heading into the fifth season. Interestingly, DeChambeau has not publicly extended his contract, fueling speculation about behind-the-scenes arrangements to retain the league’s most marketable active player after Koepka’s departure.
Vijay Singh: Returning to PGA Tour at 62