Bryson DeChambeau confirms LIV debut in 2026, Vijay Singh returns to PGA Tour aged 62, and 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for his family. This was reportedly agreed amicably, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level contests, which the LIV experience offered only partially. Initially joining LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns and to secure a substantial retirement fund, his skipping of the final contractual season isn’t surprising, though questions remain about financial matters and ownership of his LIV team Smash GC, which recently appointed Talor Gooch as captain.
Speculation grows about where Koepka will next compete: the DP World Tour, where he would be immediately eligible possibly with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension from his last LIV event, following softened lifetime bans previously imposed by former Commissioner Jay Monahan. According to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reinstate his PGA Tour membership after it was not renewed post-2022.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Start for 2026
Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed he will compete in the 2026 LIV Golf League with his Crushers team, including Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri, entering their fifth season unchanged. Notably, he did not announce a general contract extension, fueling speculation about behind-the-scenes arrangements to retain LIV’s most marketable star after Koepka’s departure.
Vijay Singh Returns on PGA Tour at 62
In a surprising move, three-time major champion Vijay Singh is returning to the PGA Tour at 62. Utilizing an exemption tied to his career money list ranking, he will play at the Sony Open in Hawaii this week. Singh has previously competed on the PGA Tour Champions, winning five titles, including the Senior Players Championship.
TGL Struggles With TV Ratings in Season Two
The Tomorrow’s Golf League (TGL) is experiencing poor TV ratings without Tiger Woods, whose appearances drove high viewership in season one. Season two’s opening day on ABC attracted only 646,000 viewers compared to 919,000 for the ESPN broadcast premiere. The second match dropped to 354,000 viewers. Woods, Rory McIlroy, and partner Mike McCarley face the challenge of finding a new standout star to sustain momentum, a tough task given Woods’ unmatched appeal and McIlroy’s limited impact.
Charley Hull to Launch Own YouTube Channel
Following Bryson DeChambeau’s example with over three million subscribers, Charley Hull is preparing to launch her own YouTube channel this summer. The 29-year-old English Malbon ambassador, known for her distinctive, glamorous style, hinted at this during an appearance on Jason Day’s “The Lads” channel ahead of the Grant Thornton Invitational in