Bryson DeChambeau confirms LIV Golf 2026 start, Vijay Singh makes PGA return, Charley Hull launches YouTube channel. The Back Nine.
Expected? Brooks Koepka has officially declined to play in the LIV Golf 2026 season, which begins on February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major winner remains connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for family. LIV CEO Scott McNeil stated it was a mutual friendly agreement. Koepka is a competitive type who thrives on high-level competition, something he found limited in LIV. After switching to LIV in 2022 due to injury concerns and to secure financial stability, his skipping the last contracted season is plausible, though questions persist about buyouts or repayment of guaranteed money. He remains owner of his LIV team Smash GC, now captained by Talor Gooch.
Speculation abounds regarding Koepka’s next playing venues. Eligible immediately for the DP World Tour—possibly with a fine? Or the PGA Tour, where he must serve a one-year suspension after his last LIV appearance, with former Commissioner Jay Monahan’s lifetime suspensions significantly reduced. It makes little sense to be vindictive when returning LIV players, especially prominent ones, benefit the established tour. This is partially confirmed by ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, reporting Koepka formally requested reinstatement of his PGA Tour membership last Friday, aiming to rejoin the players’ group.
An eventual suspension would end in August, coinciding with the conclusion of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship from August 27–30. Koepka would then be eligible for 2027 when the PGA Tour relaunches its condensed schedule of around two dozen $20-million tournaments with premium limited fields. This new era suits Koepka’s style and would be welcomed by investors behind PGA Tour Enterprises, the likely operator of the new top-tier league.
“He may need some time, but I think he will return to the PGA Tour,” said Jon Rahm recently on the Subpar podcast. “He will probably play at least the minimum, maybe the big tournaments he likes. If he qualifies or gets invites to big events, he will play those too.” PGA insiders, including Tiger Woods’s competition committee and board members, might overlook the suspension—as Rory McIlroy advocates for Koepka’s immediate return. Fans appear supportive as well, according to a non-representative poll by Bunkered magazine.
DeChambeau Confirms LIV Golf 2026 Return
Bryson DeChambeau officially confirmed competing in LIV Golf 2026. His Crushers team with Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri will remain intact into the fifth season. Interestingly, DeChambeau has not announced a contract extension, sparking speculation about underlying agreements to retain LIV’s most marketable star after Koepka’s exit.
Vijay Singh Makes PGA Tour Return at 62
In a surprising move, three-time major winner Vijay Singh returns to PGA Tour competition at age 62. Utilizing an exemption from his career earnings ranking, he will compete this week at the Sony Open in Hawaii. Singh previously played on the PGA Tour