Bryson DeChambeau confirms LIV start in 2026, Vijay Singh makes a return, Charley Hull launches YouTube channel. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has opted out for the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s friendly statement. Koepka is known as a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, something that was limited in LIV. He joined LIV in 2022 primarily due to injury concerns and to secure retirement funds. Thus, skipping the final contracted season is unsurprising, though questions remain about buyouts and team ownership—he remains owner of LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation intensifies about which fairways Koepka will appear on next: the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible, possibly with a penalty? Or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension following his last LIV appearance after the original lifetime bans were reduced. Why be vindictive when every LIV returnee benefits the more powerful PGA Tour? This key question seems partially answered: ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reports Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, suspended since 2022.
An eventual suspension would end in August, coinciding with the Tour Championship finishing the 2026 season but enabling Koepka to play in the compressed 2027 PGA schedule featuring nearly two dozen $20 million events with elite limited fields—perfect timing for his comeback and appealing for PGA Tour Enterprises’ investors.
\”He may need time, but I think he’ll return to the PGA Tour,\” said Jon Rahm recently on the \”Subpar\” podcast. \”He’ll likely play at least the minimum, picking the big events he favors. If qualified or invited to high-profile tournaments, he’ll compete.\” Perhaps Ponte Vedra Beach will overlook Koepka’s suspension, with input from the board, player directors, and Tiger Woods-led competition committee, following Rory McIlroy’s endorsement to reinstate him. Fan sentiment also supports this, according to a non-representative survey by \”Bunkered\” magazine.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Commitment for 2026
Bryson DeChambeau has officially confirmed he will compete in the 2026 LIV Golf League. His Crushers team with Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri will continue unchanged into the fifth season. Interestingly, DeChambeau has not announced a general contract extension, leading to speculation on behind-the-scenes negotiations aimed at retaining LIV’s most marketable star after Koepka’s departure.
Vijay Singh Returns to PGA Tour at 62
Surprise move: Vijay Singh, the three-time major winner from Fiji’s Viti Levu Island, is returning to the PGA Tour at age 62. Utilizing an exemption related to his career money list standing, Singh is set to play this week at the Sony Open in Hawaii. Previously, he competed on the PGA Tour Champions, winning five titles including the Senior Players Championship.