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Bryson DeChambeau rejected the notion of a potential departure from LIV Golf to go back to the PGA Tour. The rumors swirled after the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia pulled its funding for the renegade golf league this week. With the departure, LIV Golf executives scramble to find new investment money to keep up with the abhorrent costs needed to pay players, staff, and organizers.
LIV Golf established a new board of directors following the Saudi announcement, yet pessimism about the league’s success still reigns. Now, questions arise about who will come back to the PGA Tour if the LIV Golf fails. DeChambeau, as one of the most popular names in the sport, comes to the forefront of that dialogue.
“It’s completely untrue. I’m working as hard as I can to find a solution,” said DeChambeau in response to the questions about his commitment to LIV Golf.
DeChambeau Commits to Team Golf
GettyDeChambeau gave a fervent response to the news that he was planning on leaving LIV Golf.
DeChambeau furthered his alleged lack of interest in returning to the PGA Tour by complimenting on the potential of team golf.
He said, “I’m committed to making team golf work in the best way possible. I think there’s a place for it in the ecosystem and I want to continue to grow the game across the world. That’s always been our mission and it’s never been more true than now.”
DeChambeau also mentioned that LIV Golf aims to work with junior golf programs across the world. Each individual team would have its own initiative.
He said, “We’re building a bunch of junior golf events right now and each [LIV] team is looking to build junior golf academies. That’s something that we’ve been working on for almost three or four months now. We’re looking to host an event here coming up, probably in the next, I’d say, couple of months.”
He concluded his statements by reaffirming that he currently works on a contract negotiation with LIV Golf:
“We’re still working on a potential contract I haven’t given up on that and I think there will be a solution. But as of right now, my job is to help make the league work after this year. I just feel like I have a responsibility. I’ve put a lot of effort into it. So that’s what I’m going to do, we’re going to make this work.”
Despite Denial, PGA Tour Dialogue Still Exists
GettyDespite denying his interest in returning to the PGA Tour, DeChambeau potentially is covering his tracks
Trey Wingo countered DeChambeau’s most recent comments.
He said, “I can tell you definitively that people from Bryson’s camp have reached out to the highest levels of the PGA TOUR several times about exploring a path to return… and the same goes for Jon Rahm.”
DeChambeau denies any interaction with the PGA Tour; however, the documentation of his negotiations has been very public.
Brody Miller of The Athletic writes, “According to golf industry sources, DeChambeau and his team spent a part of Masters week meeting with organizations to discuss possible options if he chose to leave LIV. Speculation persists that, in the wake of others leaving LIV for the PGA Tour earlier this year, his ask to re-sign is up to $500 million. DeChambeau has even used his YouTube success as a leverage play with all potential suitors, indicating he’s open to only filming content and playing the four major championships.”
Chris Lewis is a freelance sports writer based in Gig Harbor, Washington. He focuses on NFL, MLB (with an emphasis on the Mariners), and professional golf. More about Chris Lewis