Bryson DeChambeau confirms LIV Golf 2026 start, Vijay Singh returns to PGA Tour at 62, and Charley Hull launches a YouTube channel. The Back Nine.
Brooks Koepka has officially withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh, stating he will remain connected to the competing circuit but needs more family time. LIV CEO Scott McNeil released an official statement confirming a friendly agreement. Known as a competitor who thrives in high-level competitive play, Koepka’s motivation on LIV was limited, especially since he joined the Saudi-backed league in 2022 amid injury concerns to secure his retirement funds. Questions remain if he had to buy out or refund part of his guaranteed salary and whether he remains owner of the LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation is rife about where Koepka will appear next, whether on the DP World Tour where he would be immediately eligible, possibly with a penalty, or on the PGA Tour where he faces a one-year suspension from his last LIV event after lifetime bans were softened. Notably, ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach reported Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership discontinued after 2022 and return to the player pool.
An eventual suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the 2026 season’s close at the Tour Championship from August 27 to 30. Koepka would be eligible for 2027 on the PGA Tour’s new condensed schedule of nearly two dozen $20 million events with limited, fully featured fields – an ideal comeback moment. Such a return would also appeal to investors of PGA Tour Enterprises, likely the new top league’s operator, welcoming another marquee name.
Jon Rahm recently said on the \”Subpar\” podcast, \”He might need some time, but I think he’ll return to the PGA Tour. He’ll probably at least play the minimum, I would say, and why not the tournaments he likes, the big ones. If he qualifies or gets into high-profile events, he’d play those too.\” There may be leniency towards the five-time major champion in Ponte Vedra Beach, where player directors and Tiger Woods-led competition committees hold sway and follow Rory McIlroy’s recommendation to allow Koepka to play immediately. Fans appear to agree, according to a non-representative poll by \”Bunkered\” magazine.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Golf Start for 2026
Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed his participation in the LIV Golf League in 2026. His Crushers team, featuring Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri, remains intact for the league’s fifth season. Interestingly, DeChambeau has not announced a general contract extension, prompting speculation about behind-the-scenes negotiations to retain the most marketable LIV player after 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 age 62. The Fijian uses an exemption based on his career earnings ranking and is set to compete