Bryson DeChambeau confirms LIV start in 2026, Vijay Singh makes a PGA return, Charley Hull launches YouTube channel. The Back Nine.
Expected? Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the LIV Golf League for the 2026 season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the competing circuit but needs more family time. This was reportedly agreed upon amicably, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka, a competitor motivated by high-level sport, had limited enthusiasm for LIV. He joined the Saudi-based league in 2022 primarily because injury threatened to end his career and he wanted a solid retirement fund. Thus, missing the last contractually required season is unsurprising, although questions remain if he had to buy out or repay part of his guaranteed salary. He also remains the owner of his LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation grows about which fairways Koepka will appear next. The DP World Tour would allow immediate play, possibly with a penalty? Or the PGA Tour, where a one-year suspension is due following his last LIV appearance after former commissioner Jay Monahan reduced lifetime bans. The key question partially answered: ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which had not been extended after 2022.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Start in 2026
Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed his participation in the LIV Golf League in 2026. His Crushers team, featuring Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri, will continue unchanged into the fifth season. Interestingly, no general contract extension was announced for DeChambeau, fueling speculation about behind-the-scenes agreements to retain LIV’s most prominent and marketable player after Koepka’s departure.
Vijay Singh Returns to PGA Tour at 62
In a surprising move, 62-year-old Vijay Singh will return to the PGA Tour, leveraging an exemption based on his career earnings ranking, and will compete at the Sony Open in Hawaii this week. Singh previously played on the PGA Tour Champions with five wins, including the Senior Players Championship.
Tomorrow’s Golf League Sees Weak TV Ratings in Season Two
The TGL’s second season opener on ABC drew only 646,000 viewers, a significant decline from the 919,000 who watched the first season premiere on ESPN. Without Tiger Woods, the league struggles to maintain momentum despite high-tech production and social media hype. Woods, Rory McIlroy, and partner Mike McCarley must find a new “eye-catcher,” a challenging task since Tiger remains unmatched in drawing top ratings. McIlroy and Woods’ teammate Tom Kim have yet to fill that role.
Charley Hull Launches YouTube Channel
Following Bryson DeChambeau’s success with over three million subscribers, Charley Hull has announced her own YouTube channel launching this summer. The 29-year-old English Malbon ambassador, known for her flashy style, revealed this on the \”The Lads\” channel