Bryson DeChambeau confirms LIV Golf start in 2026, Vijay Singh makes a surprising PGA Tour comeback, and Charley Hull launches a YouTube channel. The Back Nine.
Expected? Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for family. This was said to be a mutual, friendly agreement according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. But Koepka is a competitor who thrives on high-level competition, something he found limited in LIV. He initially joined LIV in 2022, expecting his career was near its end due to injuries and wanting to secure a solid retirement fund. Thus, his decision not to participate in the final contractual season is not surprising, though questions remain about financial details and his status as owner of LIV team Smash GC, which recently appointed Talor Gooch as captain.
The main speculation centers on where Koepka will play next. On the DP World Tour, where he could be immediately eligible—perhaps with a penalty? Or returning to the PGA Tour, where he must serve a one-year suspension after his last LIV event, following softened lifetime bans. Why be vindictive, especially when every prominent LIV returnee benefits the dominant Tour? This key question now has a partial answer. According to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his non-renewed PGA Tour membership from after 2022 and to rejoin the player ranks.
Koepka’s PGA Tour Membership Reapplied: Prepping a Comeback
Any suspension would end in August, coinciding with the conclusion of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship from August 27-30. Koepka would be eligible for 2027 when the PGA Tour introduces a condensed schedule of around two dozen $20 million events with limited and well-curated fields—the perfect timing for a comeback according to Koepka’s preferences. This would also greatly appeal to investors behind PGA Tour Enterprises, likely leading the new top league, welcoming a major name back.
\”He might need some time, but I think he will return to the PGA Tour,\” Jon Rahm recently said on the ‘Subpar’ podcast. \”He’ll probably play at least the minimum, focusing on tournaments he enjoys, the big ones. If he can qualify or gain entry to high-profile events, he’ll play those, too.\” Perhaps the PGA Tour will be lenient with the suspension for a five-time major winner, especially since the board, player directors, and Tiger Woods-led competition committee all have a say. Rory McIlroy advocated for Koepka’s immediate return. A majority of fans seem to agree, according to a non-representative poll by \”Bunkered\” magazine.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Start in 2026
Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed he will compete in LIV Golf in 2026. His Crushers team, including Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri, will continue unchanged into the fifth season. Interestingly, DeChambeau