Bryson DeChambeau confirms LIV start in 2026, Vijay Singh makes a comeback, and Charley Hull launches YouTube channel. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has opted out of the LIV Golf League for the 2026 season, which begins on February 7 in Riyadh. The five-time major champion maintains ties with the competing circuit but needs more family time, according to a friendly agreement stated by LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka, a fierce competitor, has shown limited motivation with LIV, having joined mainly in 2022 while facing injury concerns and securing a retirement fund. Questions remain whether he had to buy out part of his guaranteed salary or remains owner of his LIV team Smash GC, which appointed Talor Gooch as new captain.
Speculations swirl about where Koepka will compete next—DP World Tour where he would be immediately eligible, possibly paying a penalty, or the PGA Tour where he must serve a one-year suspension since his last LIV appearance, after lifetime bans were softened by former commissioner Jay Monahan. This key question seems partly answered: according to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022, aiming for reinstatement.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Start for 2026
Meanwhile, 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 unchanged heading into their fifth season. Interestingly, DeChambeau has not announced a general contract extension; behind the scenes negotiations likely aim to retain him as a key LIV figure following Koepka’s departure.
Vijay Singh Returns to PGA Tour at 62
In a surprising move, 62-year-old Vijay Singh returns to the PGA Tour, leveraging his career earnings exemption, starting this week at the Sony Open in Hawaii. The three-time major winner from Fiji previously played on the PGA Tour Champions, winning five titles including the Senior Players Championship.
TGL Faces Declining TV Ratings in Season Two
Without Tiger Woods, the Tomorrow’s Golf League has struggled with viewership. ABC’s broadcast of the second season opener drew only 646,000 viewers, down from 919,000 on ESPN during its debut season. The second match between Atlanta and The Bay attracted merely 354,000 viewers. The TGL organizers including Woods, Rory McIlroy, and partner Mike McCarley urgently seek a new star to sustain interest, as Woods remains unrivaled in drawing attention. McIlroy and Tom Kim currently cannot replicate that star power.
Charley Hull to Launch Own YouTube Channel
Following Bryson DeChambeau’s success with over three million YouTube subscribers, Charley Hull announced plans for her own channel this summer. The flamboyant English Malbon ambassador, known for her stylish and bling-heavy fashion, revealed the news on the YouTube channel “The Lads” hosted by Jason Day during a pre-Grant Thornton Invitational singles