Bryson DeChambeau confirms LIV start in 2026, Vijay Singh makes a comeback, Charley Hull soon on YouTube. The Back Nine.
Expected? Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season, which begins on February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the competing circuit but needs more time for his family. This was agreed upon amicably, according to an official statement from LIV CEO Scott McNeil. But Koepka, known as a competitor who thrives in top-level challenges, showed limited motivation at LIV. He primarily joined LIV in 2022 because he feared his career was nearing its end due to injuries and wanted to secure a solid retirement fund. Therefore, his skipping the final contract year is not surprising, although questions remain. Did he have to buy out or repay part of his guaranteed salary? Does the 35-year-old remain the owner of LIV team Smash GC, which has already named Talor Gooch as the new captain?
Speculation now revolves around where Koepka will next compete. Will it be the DP World Tour, where he could play immediately, perhaps with a penalty? Or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension since his last LIV appearance, after former Commissioner Jay Monahan reduced the lifetime bans significantly? Why be vindictive when every LIV returnee benefits the dominant tour? This key question seems partially answered. According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which wasn’t extended after 2022, to rejoin the players’ circle.
Any suspension would likely end in August, coinciding with the 2026 season finale at the Tour Championship from August 27 to 30. Koepka would be eligible to play in 2027 when the PGA Tour introduces a compressed schedule of about two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited, high-profile fields. An ideal moment for his comeback, as Koepka would prefer. Investors at PGA Tour Enterprises, likely to run the new top league, would also welcome another marquee name.
\”He may need some time, but I believe he’ll return to the PGA Tour,\” Jon Rahm recently said on the ‘Subpar’ podcast. \”He will probably play at least the minimum, I’d guess, and why not play the tournaments he likes, the big ones? If he qualifies or gains entry to high-profile events, he would play those too.\” Furthermore, the PGA Tour’s board, player directors, and the Tiger Woods-led competition committee have a say in suspensions. Rory McIlroy has recommended allowing Koepka to play immediately. Similarly, a majority of fans seem to agree, according to a non-representative survey by Bunkered magazine.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Start for 2026
Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed he’ll compete in the LIV Golf League in 2026. His Crushers team, with Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri, will go unchanged into the fifth season. Interestingly, DeChambeau has not announced a general contract extension. What agreements are behind the scenes to keep the league’s most marketable star