Bryson DeChambeau confirms LIV 2026 start, Vijay Singh returns at 62, Charley Hull launches YouTube. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has opted out of the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit, citing more family time. This mutual arrangement was officially stated by LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka, a fierce competitor who thrives in high-level contests, found limited motivation at LIV. His switch in 2022 was largely due to a career-threatening injury, aiming to secure a solid retirement fund. His withdrawal from the final contracted season raises questions: Did he buy out his contract? Does he remain owner of the LIV team Smash GC, which has appointed Talor Gooch as captain?
Much speculation surrounds where Koepka will next compete: DP World Tour, where he’d be immediately eligible, possibly after a penalty? Or PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension following his last LIV event, after prior lifetime bans by former Commissioner Jay Monahan were significantly eased? Such suspensions now seem less strict for LIV returnees with influence. According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership discontinued after 2022.
Koepka Reapplies for PGA Tour Membership
Any suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the season’s end at the Tour Championship August 27–30. Koepka would be eligible for 2027 under the PGA Tour’s new condensed schedule of around two dozen $20-million tournaments with elite limited fields—an ideal timing for a comeback. This would also appeal to PGA Tour Enterprises’ investors likely backing the new top-tier league, adding a marquee name.
Jon Rahm recently told the podcast ‘Subpar’, \”He might need some time, but I think he’ll return to the PGA Tour. He’ll probably play the minimum at least, and why not the tournaments he likes, the big ones? If he qualifies for or gains entry into high-profile events, he’d play those too.\” The PGA Tour’s competition committee, chaired by Tiger Woods and including player directors, alongside the board, may well grant Koepka leniency—especially following Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to allow Koepka immediate play. A majority of fans seem supportive, according to an informal poll by Bunkered magazine.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Golf 2026 Season
Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed his participation in LIV Golf’s 2026 season. His Crushers team, featuring Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri, will continue unchanged into the fifth season. Notably, DeChambeau has not announced a general contract extension, sparking speculation about behind-the-scenes arrangements to retain LIV’s current most marketable star after Koepka’s departure.
Vijay Singh Returns to PGA Tour at 62
In a surprising move, three-time major champion Vijay Singh returns to the PGA Tour at age 62. The Fijian, ranked highly on the career earnings list,