Bryson DeChambeau confirms LIV Golf League start in 2026, Vijay Singh aims for a comeback, and Charley Hull is launching her own YouTube channel. The Back Nine.
Expected? Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains affiliated with the rival circuit but needs more time for family, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. However, Koepka is a competitor motivated by high-level competition, which he found limited in LIV. Having joined LIV in 2022 mainly due to injury concerns and to secure retirement earnings, his skipping the final contractual season raises questions about buyouts or refunds and whether he remains owner of his LIV team Smash GC, which has appointed Talor Gooch as captain.
Speculations abound about where Koepka will play next: DP World Tour, likely with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension after his last LIV event, with lifetime bans softened by former Commissioner Jay Monahan. A key question seems partially answered as ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reports Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership that was not extended post-2022, seeking reinstatement.
Koepka Applies for PGA Tour Membership
Any suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the end of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship from August 27 to 30. This timing aligns with the PGA Tour’s planned new schedule featuring about two dozen $20 million tournaments with limited elite fields—an ideal moment for Koepka’s return. Investors behind PGA Tour Enterprises would welcome another star name.
Jon Rahm recently said in the \”Subpar\” podcast: \”He might need some time, but I think he’ll come back to the PGA Tour. He’ll probably play at least the minimum, the tournaments he likes, the big ones. If he qualifies or can enter high-profile events, he would play those as well.\” There may be leniency for a five-time major winner, influenced by the board, player directors, and Tiger Woods-led competition committee, aligned with Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to reinstate Koepka. \”Bunkered\” magazine found majority fan support in an informal poll.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Start in 2026
Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed playing the 2026 LIV Golf League season. His Crushers team with Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri proceeds unchanged into its fifth season. DeChambeau has not announced a general contract extension, fueling speculation behind the scenes about his future and the league’s strategy following Koepka’s departure.
Vijay Singh Returns to PGA Tour at 62
In a surprising move, three-time major winner Vijay Singh returns to the PGA Tour at 62. The Fijian leverages his career money list exemption and will compete this week at the Sony Open in Hawaii. Singh has five titles on the PGA Tour Champions, including the Senior Players Championship.