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SportsGolf
Superstar golfer surprised by change to 72-hole tournaments for upcoming season as contract set to expire
Published Feb 02, 2026 • 3 minute read
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Bryson DeChambeau speaks to the media during a practice round prior to the U.S. Open last year. Getty ImagesArticle content
Bryson DeChambeau doesn’t seem very happy about working some overtime this coming season.
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The big-hitting LIV Golf star apparently was taken aback by the tour’s rule change for the 2026 season, which will see the Saudi-backed breakaway league expand from three-round, 54-hole tournaments to the more traditional four-round, 72-hole outings.
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DeChambeau, who affirmed his commitment to LIV last month while in the final year of a big-money contract, said during a recent interview that he was surprised by the move.
“It’s definitely changed away from what we had initially been told it was going to be,” DeChambeau told Today’s Golfer. “So there is some movement that we’ve all been, I would say, interested in and going, ‘Why that movement?’ Because we were told it was going to be this. So that’s definitely made us have some different thoughts about it.
‘Didn’t sign up to play for 72’ holes
“I’ve got a contract for this year and we’ll go through it there and see what happens after that. Look, it’s 72 holes, it’s changed, but we’re still excited to play professionally and play for what we’re doing and go across the world. I think it’s going to be great for our (Crushers GC) team.
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“Is it what we ultimately signed up for? No. So I think we’re supposed to be different, so I’m a little indifferent to it right now.
“Hopefully, it weighs positively on me over the course of time, but you never know. I’m not sure. We didn’t sign up to play for 72 (holes).”
Dechambeau was one of the sport’s biggest stars to back the jump to LIV in 2022, being lured by the promise of a huge payday and less of a workload.
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However, Brooks Koepka became the first of LIV’s biggest stars to make their way back to the PGA Tour through a new Returning Members Program – which has several financial penalties attached to it.
The five-time major champion announced his return to the PGA Tour in January after parting ways with the Saudi-backed golf circuit. Koepka spent four seasons playing for LIV Golf, ultimately ending his contract one year early.
As part of the terms agreed to, Koepka was able to return to play almost immediately — he competed at the Farmers Insurance Open this past weekend, finishing in a tie for 54th place.
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However, there are “strict limitations” he must deal with. Koepka was to make a charitable donation of $5 million US and will be ineligible for both the Player Equity Program for five years (with a projected $50 million to $85 million in lost earnings) and the 2026 FedEx Cup bonus payouts.
What are his other options?
Patrick Reed also recently left LIV Golf, but as he does not qualify for the return program, he is opting to compete on the DP World Tour for the 2026 season before returning to the PGA Tour full time in 2027.
Dechambeau, as a two-time U.S. Open champion, also qualified for the program, but did not choose to opt in to it before Monday’s deadline.
Dechambeau may have another option if he doesn’t want to stick with LIV Golf or return to the PGA Tour: Becoming a full-time YouTuber.
Last month, he said that backing out of both of the world’s big-money tours in favour of becoming a full-time streamer – while also competing in majors — is an “incredibly viable option.”
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Patrick Reed leaves LIV Golf, headed back to PGA Tour
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