Bryson DeChambeau confirms LIV Golf start for 2026, Vijay Singh returns to PGA Tour at 62, Charley Hull to launch YouTube channel soon. The Back Nine.
Not unexpected? Brooks Koepka has officially opted out of the LIV Golf League season 2026, starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains affiliated with the rival circuit but needs more time for family. This, at least, is the official statement from LIV CEO Scott McNeil. But Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level challenges; he has been less motivated at LIV. Originally joining LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns and to secure a substantial retirement fund, it’s not surprising he skips his last contracted playing year, though questions remain. Did he have to buy out his contract or return part of his guaranteed pay? Does he remain the owner of his LIV team Smash GC, which has named Talor Gooch as new captain?
Speculation intensifies over which fairways Koepka will next appear on. The DP World Tour would grant him immediate eligibility, possibly with a penalty. The PGA Tour would require a one-year suspension since his last LIV event, following a softening of prior lifetime bans imposed by former Commissioner Jay Monahan. Why hold grudges when every LIV returnee, especially a star, strengthens the already dominant PGA Tour? This key question seems partially answered: ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reports Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership after it was not renewed post-2022, seeking reinstatement among players.
An eventual suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the close of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship from August 27 to 30. Koepka would be eligible to play in 2027, aligning perfectly with the PGA Tour’s new schedule compressed into about two dozen $20-million events with limited fields, ideal timing for his comeback. PGA Tour Enterprises investors backing the new top league would welcome another big name.
\”He might need some time, but I think he will return to the PGA Tour,\” said Jon Rahm recently on the Subpar podcast. \”He’ll probably at least play the minimum, I’d say, and why not play the tournaments he likes, the big ones. If he qualifies for or is invited to high-profile events, he would play those too.\” Perhaps the five-time major winner’s suspension will be leniently handled in Ponte Vedra Beach — apart from the board, player directors and Tiger Woods-led competition committee have say in disciplinary matters, with Rory McIlroy recommending immediate reinstatement. A majority of fans apparently agree, according to a non-representative Bunkered magazine poll.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Start for 2026
Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed participating in the LIV Golf League in 2026. His Crushers team, featuring Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri, remains the same going into the fifth season. Interestingly, DeChambeau has not announced a general contract extension — the details behind the scenes remain speculative, especially to avoid losing LIV’s most marketable player