Bryson DeChambeau confirms LIV start in 2026, Vijay Singh returns to PGA, Charley Hull launches YouTube channel. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time. This was amicably agreed upon, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. However, Koepka is a competitor who thrives on top-level competition, which he found limited at LIV. Having joined LIV in 2022 amid injury concerns and to secure retirement funds, his opting out of his final contracted season raises questions such as whether he had to buy out or return part of his guaranteed salary. He remains owner of the LIV team Smash GC, with Talor Gooch now captain.
Speculation grows about which fairways Koepka will soon appear on. The DP World Tour would grant immediate playing rights, possibly with a penalty, or the PGA Tour where he faces a one-year suspension since his last LIV event, following softened lifetime bans by former Commissioner Jay Monahan. Why be vindictive when a prominent LIV returnee benefits the PGA Tour’s leverage? ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reports that Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership which was not extended after 2022.
An eventual suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship from August 27-30. Koepka would then be eligible for 2027 under the PGA Tour’s new schedule condensed to around two dozen $20 million events with limited elite fields – a perfect timing for his comeback and attractive for PGA Tour Enterprises investors, likely the new league’s backers.
Jon Rahm recently said on the podcast “Subpar”, \”He may need some time, but I think he will return to the PGA Tour. He will probably play at least the minimum, and why not the tournaments he likes, the big ones? If he qualifies or can participate in top events, he would play those too.\” The competition committee led by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s recommendation support Koepka’s immediate return, and a majority of fans agree, according to a non-representative “Bunkered” poll.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Start for 2026
Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed his participation in LIV Golf League’s 2026 season. His Crushers team with Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri stays intact for the fifth season. Interestingly, DeChambeau did not announce a general contract extension, fueling speculation about behind-the-scenes arrangements to retain the league’s most marketable star after Koepka’s departure.
Vijay Singh Returns to PGA Tour at Age 62
In a surprising move, three-time major champion Vijay Singh will return to the PGA Tour at 62. The Fijian from Viti Levu uses an exemption based on his career money list status and is set to compete this week at the Sony Open in Hawaii. Previously, Singh played on the PGA Tour Champions, capturing