Bryson DeChambeau confirms LIV start in 2026, Vijay Singh makes PGA Tour comeback at 62, 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As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more family time. LIV CEO Scott McNeil confirmed a friendly agreement. Koepka, known for thriving in top-level competition, showed limited motivation in LIV. His 2022 switch to Saudi golf was mainly to secure a good retirement fund after injury concerns. His skipping the last contracted season raises questions about any buyout or refund and whether he remains owner of the LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation intensifies about Koepka’s next tour. He would be immediately eligible on the DP World Tour, possibly for a penalty, or return to the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension since his last LIV appearance, following softening of Jay Monahan’s lifetime bans. A key issue now partly resolved: ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reports Koepka formally applied last Friday to reinstate his PGA Tour membership, which was not renewed after 2022.
Koepka’s potential suspension ends this August, just as the 2026 season concludes with the Tour Championship. He would be eligible to play in 2027, coinciding with the PGA Tour’s new schedule of about two dozen $20 million events featuring limited elite fields—a perfect reentry point. This would also please PGA Tour Enterprises investors backing the new top league who value marquee names.
\”He might need time, but I think he’ll return to the PGA Tour,\” said Jon Rahm recently in the \”Subpar\” podcast. \”He’ll probably play at least the minimum and why not the tournaments he likes, the big ones. If he qualifies for or gets into big events, he would play those too.\” It’s possible PGA Tour authorities, including Tiger Woods-led competition committee and player directors, might waive some suspension, following Rory McIlroy’s support for Koepka’s immediate return. Fan polls by \”Bunkered\” magazine also show majority approval.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Start for 2026
Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed his participation in the 2026 LIV Golf League. His Crushers team with Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri remains intact for the fifth season. Interestingly, DeChambeau did not announce a general contract extension, leaving room for speculation about behind-the-scenes agreements to retain the league’s top marketable player after Koepka’s exit.
Vijay Singh Returns to PGA Tour at 62
In a surprising move, 62-year-old Vijay Singh returns to the PGA Tour, leveraging his career earnings exemption. The three-time major champion from Fiji begins at the Sony Open in Hawaii this week. Previously, he competed on the PGA Tour Champions, winning five titles including the Senior Players Championship.
TGL Faces Low TV Ratings in Season Two
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