Bryson DeChambeau confirms LIV Golf League start in 2026, Vijay Singh aims for a comeback, Charley Hull to launch a YouTube channel soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the LIV Golf League 2026 season, which starts on February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the competing circuit but needs more family time. This was mutually agreed upon, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is known as a competitor who thrives in high-level competition, something he found limited in LIV. He joined LIV in 2022 mainly because injuries threatened his career’s end and to secure a substantial retirement fund. Thus, his decision to forgo the last contractually obligated season is not surprising, though questions remain. Did he have to pay back part of his guaranteed salary? Does the 35-year-old still own his LIV team Smash GC, which recently appointed Talor Gooch as the new captain?
Speculations mainly focus on which fairways Koepka will grace next. He would be immediately eligible on the DP World Tour, probably subject to a penalty, or PGA Tour, where he serves a one-year suspension from his last LIV appearance, after previously lifetime bans by former Commissioner Jay Monahan were significantly reduced. Why hold grudges when every prominent LIV returnee benefits the better-positioned tour? This question seems partly answered. ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported that Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, previously not extended after 2022, aiming to rejoin the playing field.
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 unchanged for the fifth season. Interestingly, DeChambeau has not announced a general contract extension. Speculations abound about behind-the-scenes agreements to retain LIV’s most marketable active player after Koepka’s departure.
Vijay Singh, 62, Returns to PGA Tour
Surprising move: Vijay Singh will return to the PGA Tour at the age of 62. The three-time major winner from Fiji uses an exemption based on his career money list position and will start this week at the Sony Open in Hawaii. He has previously won five titles on the PGA Tour Champions, including the Senior Players Championship.
TGL Faces Weak TV Ratings in Season Two
The Tomorrow’s Golf League (TGL) struggles in its second season without Tiger Woods, as TV ratings have dropped. The ABC broadcast of the season opener drew just 646,000 viewers, down from 919,000 on ESPN in the premiere season’s opener. The second match between Atlanta and The Bay attracted only 354,000 viewers. The TGL founders Woods, Rory McIlroy, and Mike McCarley are seeking a new standout player to recapture audience interest, but Woods remains unmatched as an attraction.
Charley Hull to Launch YouTube Channel
Following Bry