Bryson DeChambeau confirms LIV start in 2026, Vijay Singh aims for a comeback, Charley Hull goes YouTube soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has opted out of the 2026 LIV season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion stays connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for family, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. However, Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, which LIV did not fully provide. His 2022 switch to LIV was largely motivated by injury concerns and securing retirement earnings. Questions remain about whether he bought out his contract or retained ownership of the LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation surrounds where Koepka will compete next. He is eligible immediately for the DP World Tour, possibly with a penalty, or on the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension from his last LIV appearance, albeit reduced from an earlier lifetime ban. According to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which lapsed after 2022, seeking readmission.
Any suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship (August 27-30). Koepka could compete in 2027, aligning with the PGA Tour’s revamped schedule featuring about two dozen $20 million events with exclusive fields – an ideal moment for his return. PGA Tour Enterprises investors would welcome such a marquee name.
Jon Rahm recently expressed in the ‘Subpar’ podcast that Koepka will likely return to the PGA Tour, possibly playing a minimal schedule focused on his favorite and major events. The PGA Tour’s decision-makers, including player directors and Tiger Woods-led competition committee, may be lenient, following Rory McIlroy’s support for letting Koepka play immediately. Fan sentiment, as surveyed by ‘Bunkered’ magazine, largely favors Koepka’s return.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Golf Start in 2026
Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed his participation in the LIV Golf League for 2026. His Crushers team, including Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri, will continue unchanged into the fifth season. No general contract extension was announced, fueling speculation about behind-the-scenes agreements to retain one of LIV’s biggest stars after Koepka’s departure.
Vijay Singh Returns to PGA Tour at 62
Surprise move: 62-year-old Vijay Singh returns to the PGA Tour, utilizing his exemption based on career earnings. The three-time major champion from Fiji is competing this week at the Sony Open in Hawaii. Singh has been active on the PGA Tour Champions with five wins, including the Senior Players Championship.
TGL Faces Low TV Ratings in Season Two
The Tomorrow’s Golf League (TGL) has struggled in its second season’s premiere without Tiger Woods, drawing only 646,000 viewers on ABC, down from 919,000 on ESPN last year. The novelty effect faded, and